Castlepoint - The Gap Surf Forecast and Surf Report

The forecast kicks off on Monday the 10th of August with a bit of a whimper – a small 3ft SSE swell, but with a moderate cross-shore and a cross-chop, it’s pretty poor. Not the start we were hoping for.

Things improve a little on Tuesday the 11th. The morning brings a 6ft SSW swell, and the wind is a nice cross-offshore breeze, so the surf is clean. The wave energy is significant (1116), but the period is a short 8 seconds, so it’s a bit lumpy and won’t have that real grunt. By the afternoon, the wind swings onshore and the swell drops, so the morning is the only window.

The next few days are a write-off. Wednesday the 12th and Thursday the 13th are a washout with strong onshore winds and messy, choppy conditions. Friday the 14th morning, however, is a bright spot. It’s a glassy morning with a 6ft E swell – the wind is dead calm, so it’ll be clean. The energy is moderate (374), but the period is a short 7 seconds, so it might be a bit warby. The afternoon sees the wind come onshore, so the early session is the one.

The weekend is a no-go. Saturday the 15th is a rain-soaked, windy mess, and Sunday the 16th is a total write-off with near-gale force winds. The swell is big (7ft and 6ft) but the wind is so strong it’s not worth thinking about.

The real standout, and the one to circle on the calendar, is Wednesday the 19th of August. The morning session at Castlepoint - The Gap (New Zealand) is looking massive – a solid 28ft SSW swell with a very long period of 16 seconds. The wind is a clean cross-offshore, and the wave energy is a staggering 62681. The problem is, this is *too* big. It’s only for the experts. The break is sheltered, but even so, it’s going to be a full-on, heavy, consequential wave. The crowd factor is also a thing – it’s often crowded, so be prepared for a pack. The water temperature is 53°F, which is a bit colder than normal for this time of year, so make sure you’ve got a good thick suit.

The Thursday the 20th is still big, with a 13ft swell from the south, but the wind is a bit more onshore, making it a bit less clean. The energy is still very strong (5480), but it’s more of a challenge than a joy.

The next week has a couple of other promising windows. Friday the 21st of August sees a clean, offshore WNW wind with a 5ft S swell. The energy is strong (1198) and the period is a solid 11 seconds, so it’s a proper groundswell. This one is much more manageable and should offer some great, clean waves. The crowds are likely, but it’s the best all-round option for the intermediate surfer. Saturday the 22nd fades out, but Sunday the 23rd looks good again with a moderate offshore breeze and a 7ft S swell. The energy is strong (1098), but with a 9-second period, it’s a bit shorter. The morning is the call.

After that, the swell lingers but the winds turn onshore, so the quality drops. The Monday the 24th and Tuesday the 25th are onshore and messy, with the swell dropping slowly.

The best of the entire forecast is the 19th of August for the experts, but for the rest of us, the 21st of August is the standout session. The Gap is a sheltered spot, so it can handle a bit of swell, but it’s often crowded, so get in early.

Rusty.

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