The groyne Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s coming our way for the next couple of weeks.

To be brutally honest, this is a pretty grim outlook. We’re looking at a long stretch of poor conditions with hardly any windows worth paddling out for. The groyne is a reef setup that’s exposed to the swell, but the wind is just killing it day after day.

The water’s sitting at 68°F at The groyne, which is a bit colder than normal for this time of year – about 2°F below average, so you’ll want a good steamer.

The first week is basically a write-off. From Sunday the 16th right through to Friday the 21st, it’s all cross-shore and cross-onshore winds, with moderate to fresh breezes churning up lumpy, choppy conditions. Swell hangs around 4 ft to 7 ft from the SE and ESE, with periods of 6 to 8 seconds – short-period, junky windswell. The combined energy gets up to moderate levels (337 to 516), but it’s messy and blown out. No good surf here at all.

There’s a tiny glimmer on Saturday morning the 22nd. The wind swings NNW at 9 mph, giving us a clean, cross-offshore breeze. Swell drops to 4 ft from the east with an 8-second period, and combined energy is weak (188). The comment says “surfable waves but very ordinary conditions.” It’s not a standout, but if you’re desperate, it’s the only morning that looks remotely rideable. Crowds are sometimes an issue here, but with conditions this average, it might not be too bad.

After that, it’s back to the same story. Sunday the 23rd through the end of the month is a mess of cross-shore and cross-onshore winds, with poor surf conditions. Swell stays small to moderate, mostly 1 ft to 5 ft, and periods drop to 5 or 6 seconds in the second week. The combined energy is weak, often under 100. By Tuesday the 25th, we get a glassy morning with no wind, but the swell is only 2 ft – that’s barely a ripple.

Saturday the 29th and Sunday the 30th show a slight bump in energy (125 and 104), but it’s still poor quality with cross-onshore winds. Nothing to get excited about.

Overall, this is a long, blank run. The groyne is fairly consistent in picking up swell, but the wind just won’t play ball. If you’re a kite surfer, those choppy, windy days might look more interesting than paddle surfing. For the rest of us, it’s a waiting game. Forecasts can change, but right now, I’d save your energy.

Rusty.

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