Castlepoint - The Gap Surf Forecast and Surf Report

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

It’s a quiet start, but we’ve got a decent run of surf coming through. The water is sitting at 54°, which is pretty much bang on average for this time of year, so no surprises there.

The first real action kicks off on Sunday morning, August 2nd. We’re looking at a clean 8ft swell from the south, with a period of 11 seconds. The wind is a gentle offshore from the WNW, keeping things smooth. The combined energy is moderate (1605). This is a solid, fun wave for a Sunday sesh. The surf carries on through the afternoon, dropping a touch to 7ft but with glassy conditions as the wind goes nearly nothing – that’s a real treat.

Monday, August 3rd, holds clean, smaller waves. The swell drops to 3ft from the SSW in the morning, and 3ft in the afternoon, both with offshore breeze. The period stretches to 12 and 13 seconds, giving the waves some shape. The energy is weak (566 and 585), but it’s a good option for a beginner or a longboarder.

Now, the standout period is from Tuesday, August 4th, through to Wednesday, August 5th. This is the best run of the outlook. Tuesday morning brings a 10ft south swell with a 14-second period, and clean conditions thanks to a cross-offshore wind. The combined energy is strong (3680). This is a proper groundswell, full of power. The waves will be big, holding at 12ft in the afternoon (5687 energy), so this is for experienced surfers only. Wednesday morning, August 5th, is the pick of the bunch: 10ft south swell, 14-second period, gentle offshore wind, and the conditions are described as excellent for experienced surfers (2824 energy). That’s a session to get excited about.

After that, the swell settles down. Thursday, August 6th, sees a clean 6ft south swell in the morning, but the wind swings onshore in the afternoon, making it messy. Friday, August 7th, is small in the morning, but the afternoon offers a surprise: a 5ft south swell with a very long period of 17 seconds. That’s a rare, long-period groundswell that will wrap into The Gap beautifully. The energy is moderate (1313) and the wind is light. It’s a gem.

The second week is more mixed. Saturday, August 8th, and Sunday, August 9th, have clean, moderate swells, but the period drops to 8 seconds on Sunday, making it a bit crumbly. Monday, August 10th, has a decent 8ft south-east swell in the afternoon (1234 energy) with a clean cross-offshore wind, which is worth a look. The rest of the week sees smaller, wind-affected waves, with a short period spike on Wednesday, August 12th (10ft east swell, 11 seconds), but with light rain and cross-shore wind. The final days, from August 14th onward, are poor with strong winds and lumpy conditions, so it’s time to hang up the board for a while.

Crowds at The Gap can be often, especially on the good days, so expect company for the Sunday and the big Tuesday/Wednesday swell.

Overall, the best bets are the Sunday morning glass-off and the big, powerful groundswell on Tuesday and Wednesday of the first week. Get on it.

Rusty.

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