Castlepoint - The Gap Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s shaping up for our local stretch.

We’ve got a bit of a mixed bag over the next couple of weeks. There’s some solid energy coming through, but it’s not all smooth sailing. The first good window is actually on Tuesday afternoon, the 1st of September, with an 12 ft swell from the south, but it’s coming in with a cross-on breeze. That’s a lot of water moving around, with combined wave energy hitting 4631, so it’s pumping, but it’s not the cleanest. The water’s sitting at 53°, which is about 1° cooler than usual for this time of year, so nothing too wild there.

The real standout for the experienced crew is going to be Wednesday morning, the 2nd of September. The Gap (Castlepoint) is the spot. We’ve got a 6 ft south swell with a 17-second period – that’s a proper long period groundswell, and it’s got a clean, moderate offshore wind from the WNW at 16 mph. The combined energy is a hefty 3364, meaning there’s plenty of push. This is excellent surf for those who know what they’re doing. The wave direction is south, but the optimum for this break is ESE, so it’s a bit of a cross-up, but the offshore wind is the key here – it’s going to keep the lines clean. It’s also fairly consistent, so you won’t be waiting around forever.

Later that same Wednesday afternoon, the swell bumps up to 8 ft, still with a fresh offshore from the WNW at 19 mph and a 15-second period. Combined energy is still strong at 3183. This is now pushing into the expert-only zone. It’s big, it’s powerful, and the wind is strong. If you’re not confident, give it a miss.

Things drop off pretty quickly after that. From Thursday the 3rd onwards, we’re looking at a long stretch of small, weak, or messy conditions. The swell drops right down, and the wind either stays too strong or swings around. There’s a gap of about a week where the surf is pretty ordinary, with heights below 3 ft and combined energy figures dropping into the double digits or low triple digits. Not much to get excited about.

Then, we start to see a glimmer of hope. On Friday morning, the 11th of September, the swell picks up a bit to 5 ft from the southeast with a 11-second period, and the wind is a light offshore from the WNW at 6 mph. Combined energy is 706. This is looking good, and the conditions should be clean. By Saturday morning, the 12th, it’s even better. The swell is 6 ft from the ESE with a 10-second period, and the wind is completely glassy. That’s a zero wind state, and you can’t ask for much more than that. The combined energy is 761. This is a great window for The Gap, with the swell direction matching the ESE optimum. It’s fairly consistent, but keep in mind the period is around 10 seconds, so it’s not the super long groundswell that can be tricky at a beach break. This spot is sheltered, so it should handle it well.

The following week has a few more moments. Tuesday morning, the 15th, has 5 ft from the ESE with a 10-second period and glassy conditions again. Combined energy is 472. Then Wednesday, the 16th, has a smaller 3 ft south swell but with a very long 16-second period, and light offshore winds. The combined energy for that is 810, which is decent for the size. That long period means it will wrap in nicely, and the light wind will keep it tidy.

So, to sum it up: the best bet is hands down the Wednesday morning of the 2nd of September for the big, clean, expert-level groundswell, and then the window around the 11th and 12th of September for the cleaner, more moderate conditions. The Gap is the only break on the menu here, and it’s the one to focus on.

Rusty out.

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