Castlepoint - The Gap Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the cards for Castlepoint - The Gap over the next couple of weeks.

Right out of the gate, we’ve got a bit of a mixed bag. The water temperature is sitting at 54°, which is pretty much what you’d expect for this time of year, no real surprises there.

The first real chance for a paddle kicks off on Wednesday afternoon, July 29th. We’re looking at a 6 ft swell pushing in from the ESE, with a solid 12-second period. The wind is a cross-off from the NNW at 12 mph, which should keep things reasonably clean. The combined energy is moderate (887), so there’s a bit of push there, but it’s a sheltered spot, so it’ll be manageable. Not a standout, but a decent start.

Now, Thursday, July 30th and Friday, July 31st are a bit rough. The swell drops right off, and the wind kicks up strong, especially on Friday when you’ve got a 25 mph offshore wind. That’s clean, but it’s going to be a nightmare to paddle into with the swell down to 2 ft. I’d give those days a miss.

Saturday, August 1st brings a big change. A solid 10 ft to 12 ft S swell rolls in, but it’s messy. The wind is cross-shore and fresh, so the wave face is going to be lumpy with cross-chop. The combined energy jumps into the strong range (2998 on Saturday afternoon), but the quality is poor. For the experienced crew, it might be worth a look, but it’s not a day for beginners.

Sunday, August 2nd is a proper standout. This is the best on offer in the whole outlook. You’ve got an 8 ft S swell in the morning, dropping to a 7 ft SSE in the afternoon. The period is a solid 11 seconds. But the magic is the wind: light westerlies, offshore, glassy clean. The combined energy is strong (1792 in the morning, 1350 in the afternoon). This is a top-shelf day at The Gap. The swell direction is S, which isn’t the optimum ESE, but the clean conditions and solid size make up for it. For a sheltered spot, 8 ft is a solid, fun size, but it might be a little much for the absolute beginners. Get out there.

Monday, August 3rd is a comedown. The morning is nice with 4 ft and a gentle offshore, but the afternoon blows up with a 13 ft S swell and a 19 mph cross-shore wind. That’s strong (7411) energy but messy. The morning is the call.

Tuesday, August 4th is a no-go for paddle surfing. The swell hits 18 ft with a very long 14-second period. The combined energy is massive (11169 to 18823). This is way too big for The Gap, even for experts. The wind is light at times, but the size is just dangerous. Honestly, with that much wind and swell, the setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing.

Wednesday, August 5th through to Wednesday, August 12th is a long, dry spell. The swell is constantly on the small side, the wind is mostly onshore or cross-onshore, and the quality is poor. You’ll see some 8 ft to 10 ft days, but the wind is from the E or SE, bringing in chop and making it ugly. The combined energy is moderate, but the conditions are just not there. There’s a ten-day stretch where I wouldn’t bother.

Finally, Wednesday, August 13th is a promising light at the end of the tunnel. The morning session is expected to be excellent for experienced surfers. A 13 ft NE swell with a short 9-second period, but the wind is glassy – dead calm. That’s a beautiful thing. The combined energy is very strong (4082). This is a big swell, only for the experts, and the short period might make it a bit fat, but glassy conditions at The Gap with that size is a rare treat. The afternoon drops to 8 ft with a bit of cross-onshore wind, but the morning is the window.

So, to sum it up: Sunday, August 2nd is the absolute standout for the best all-round conditions. Wednesday, August 13th morning is the one for the big-wave hunters. The rest of the first week is a waiting game, and the second week looks largely quiet.

Rusty.

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