The Island Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right then, let's have a look at what's on the table for The Island. It's a solid reef break that's always exposed to the swell, and it loves a good SW direction. Thing is, for the first few days, it's a write-off. We've got a strong, onshore wind ripping through from Saturday the 11th right through Monday the 13th, and the swell is just a mess. Saturday's got a 7ft to 8ft SW swell, but with that 28 mph WSW wind straight on it, it's just a washing machine.

We're looking at a real gap here for about four days of poor surf. The energy is there – hitting 514 on Saturday morning and climbing to a massive 3372 by Monday afternoon – but the quality is zero. You wouldn't want to be out there. It's not until Tuesday the 14th afternoon that things start to look a bit more promising. The wind backs off to a gentle 9 mph S cross-shore, and we've got a 8ft SW groundswell with a long 16-second period. It's still marginal, but at least it's not a complete horror show.

Now, Wednesday the 15th is where it gets interesting. That's your window. Wednesday morning we're looking at a clean 6ft SW swell with a 15-second period. The wind goes light ENE cross-offshore at 6 mph. That's the good stuff. Then Wednesday afternoon? Glassy. A 5ft SW swell and the wind drops to a mere 3 mph from the WSW, making it perfectly calm. The combined energy is a solid 1205 to 1400, and the wave comment says it's excellent for experienced surfers. That's the standout. The Island is a reef break, so with that 15-second period the waves will have real shape and power, and the light wind will have them looking perfect. Keep an eye on the crowds though, they can show up sometimes.

From Thursday the 16th through to Saturday the 18th, it fades. The swell drops under 5ft, the period shortens, and we get moderate cross-shore winds. Not worth the effort. Then Sunday the 19th through Monday the 20th, we get another pulse of big swell – hitting 8ft to 10ft from the WSW – but it's hammered by strong onshore winds again. That's just raw power with no finesse, and it's not going to be any fun for a paddle surfer. Might be one for the kite crew.

Looking further out, the second week gets a bit more interesting. The winds finally turn favourable. On Friday the 24th, we get a moderate offshore breeze from the ESE at 12 mph, cleaning up a 6ft SW swell with a 15-second period. That looks promising, but it's a week and a half away, so keep your fingers crossed. Saturday the 25th is even better on paper: a 6ft SW swell with an offshore E wind and a 14-second period in the morning, then a 6ft SW swell with a 16-second period and a gentle cross-offshore breeze in the afternoon. The energy is solid, and the comments say excellent for experienced surfers. If that holds, it could be another top day.

So, if you're looking for the best of the lot, lock in Wednesday the 15th. The glassy afternoon session looks like pure magic, but the whole day is good. Saturday the 25th is the long-range shout, but don't book your flights just yet.

Rusty

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