The Washout Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right then, let’s have a look at what’s on offer for The Washout over the next couple of weeks.

Honestly, it’s a tough stretch ahead. We’re looking at a long run of small, messy surf with barely a glimmer of something worthwhile. The first recommendation doesn’t pop up until the 22nd of August, and even that Saturday morning is nothing to get excited about – just 2ft of weak, short-period swell from the S with a period of 5 seconds. The energy is low (33). The wind is cross-offshore from the WSW, which will keep things clean, but the waves are just too small and gutless to really surf properly.

The pattern stays pretty flat and frustrating all the way through. There’s a gap of several days with nothing recommended. We get a tiny bump on Sunday the 23rd of August morning – 3ft from the SSW with a 5-second period, wind is cross-off again, so it’ll look clean, but that’s barely a ripple. The energy is still weak (61). That whole first week is mostly cross-onshore winds and tiny swell, with the occasional clean window that just doesn’t have any push.

The first session that actually earns a “surfable” tag comes late on Thursday the 27th of August afternoon. The swell picks up a touch to 3ft from the S, period still a short 5 seconds, but the wind goes cross-off from the WSW and it turns clean. The energy nudges up to 45 – still weak, but you might find a few fun little crumbly shoulders if you’re on a log or a foamie. Crowds are possible at The Washout, this being a consistent spot, so don’t expect to have it to yourself.

Looking deeper into the forecast, there’s another session on Sunday the 30th of August morning. The swell is back down to 2ft from the S with a 5-second period, but the wind goes totally glassy. It’ll be mirror-flat out there, but with that tiny energy (42), it’s about as marginal as it gets for a board with fins.

The real standout, if you can call it that, shows up on Tuesday the 1st of September morning. We get a 1ft swell from the SE, but look at that period – 11 seconds. That’s a proper long-period groundswell for such a tiny wave, and it brings the energy up to 77 (still moderate). With a light cross-offshore wind from the WSW, it’ll be clean. The Washout is a beach/pier setup exposed to the SE, and that long period means it might actually wrap in and produce a few lined-up corners, even though it’s small. For a tiny wave, it could be surprisingly fun, but it’s for the patient surfer.

Later in the first week of September, Wednesday the 2nd of September morning is also glassy with a 0.9ft SE swell and a very long 12-second period. The energy is moderate (54). Another tiny, clean window for a micro-skim.

Through the first few days of September, things get windier and more chopped out, with onshore winds and fresh breezes messing up what little swell there is. By Friday the 4th of September morning, the wind goes cross-off from the NNE with a 2ft SE swell at 10 seconds, and the energy hits 111 (moderate), but it’s still just poor surf conditions.

If you’re a beginner, the biggest issue is sheer lack of size – nothing here tops 3ft, so it’s not too big. But the quality is just so poor for so long. There is no true standout in this forecast. It’s a blank run that is fairly normal for the area when conditions are this stagnant.

Keep an eye on the wind – if it goes offshore or glassy, even a 1ft groundswell can be a fun little session on the right tide. But for proper waves? We’re waiting.

Rusty.

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