The groyne Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Righto, let’s have a look at what’s on offer for The Groyne over the next couple of weeks. First thing to say, there’s a bit of a lean patch to start with, so don’t get too keen too early.

The first window of any real interest doesn’t show up until Sunday morning, the 6th of September. We’ve got a small, messy NNE swell pushing in at about 3 ft, but the period is a short, snappy 5 seconds – not much grunt behind it. The wind though, it’s a light cross-off from the NNW, so it’ll be clean. The combined energy is weak, sitting at just 56. It’s surfable, but only just. Nothing to get excited about.

The next couple of days are pretty grim. Monday and Tuesday are mostly cross-on or onshore, with waves under 3 ft and energy readings staying below 100. Not worth paddling out for.

Now, Tuesday the 8th of September afternoon sees a jump in size – 7 ft from the SE, but it’s coming with a short 7-second period and a strong cross-on wind from the SE at 9 mph. The combined energy reads 392, which is moderate, but the conditions are poor – choppy and lumpy. That’s a tough one, even for a reef. This is really more for experienced surfers if anyone’s desperate, but I wouldn’t call it a standout.

The next real chance comes Wednesday morning, the 9th of September. We’ve got a glassy start with an ESE swell at 3 ft, period 6 seconds, and the combined energy is 78. The wind is dead calm – glassy conditions, and that’s a major positive. The waves are small and ordinary, but clean. A morning paddle for the patient.

Thursday the 10th of September gets a bit punchy again in the afternoon – 7 ft from the SE, period 7 seconds, with a fresh cross-wind from the SSE at 22 mph. Combined energy jumps to 460, which is solid moderate energy, but that wind is going to make it a lumpy, cross-chop mess. Not a day for a relaxing session.

After that, it trails off. From the 11th through to the 17th, we’re looking at mostly small, weak surf – under 3 ft, poor wind directions, and combined energy mostly below 100. There’s a lot of onshore and cross-on wind, and the swell is inconsistent and short period. It’s a real dry spell.

The best bet of the whole outlook, if you can wait, is Thursday the 17th of September afternoon. We’ve got a clean, offshore wind from the WSW at 9 mph, with a 3 ft ENE swell at 7 seconds. The combined energy is 77, so it’s not powerful, but it’s clean and surfable. The wind is offshore, and that’s a rare treat here. It’s a small, clean wave – ordinary but rideable.

Then Friday the 18th of September morning also looks promising – a 2 ft E swell, 8-second period, with a cross-off wind from the SW at 12 mph. Combined energy reads 106, which is just into moderate. Clean again. The afternoon stays clean with a light cross-off and similar 2 ft swell.

So, the standout is definitely Thursday the 17th afternoon and Friday the 18th. Small but clean, offshore or cross-off winds, and the swell has a bit of shape. It won’t be a big day, but for this stretch, it’s the pick.

Keep in mind, The Groyne is a reef break, so it can handle a bit of direction, and the optimum swell is from the SE. The swell we get on those days is from the ENE and E, which isn’t ideal, but with clean wind, it’ll still offer a few fun ones. It’s fairly consistent, but crowds are sometimes a thing here, so don’t expect to have it to yourself.

Water temperature is sitting at 69°F, which is about 1° cooler than normal for this time of year – nothing wild, just a touch fresh.

Signing off, Rusty.

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