The Wharf Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s cooking for The Wharf.

To be straight with you, this outlook is a long, tough slog. We’re looking at a solid 16-day window, but the first real chance of anything surfable doesn’t pop up until the very end, and even then it’s a real gamble. The whole first week and a half is a write-off.

The trouble starts from Thursday, August 6th right through until about Wednesday, August 19th. That’s nearly two weeks of nothing but "poor surf conditions." The onshore winds are relentless, mostly howling out of the SSE and SE at 18 to 28 mph, which is just trashing any chance of a clean wave. There’s plenty of raw energy in the water, for sure, especially on Saturday the 8th with that combined energy hitting (1699) and (1502), and a big 10ft SSE swell. But with strong onshore winds and a messy sea state, it’s a total mess. That’s more of a kite-surfing setup than a paddle surfing one, to be honest. The water temp at 81°F is about average for this time of year, so no surprises there.

By Sunday the 9th and into the following week, the swell sticks around in the 5ft to 8ft range, but the wind keeps it lumpy and uninviting. There’s even a long-period S groundswell arriving late Monday the 10th with a period of 16 to 17 seconds and some serious energy (3391), perfect in theory for a reef like The Wharf, but the cross-onshore wind ruins it. You’d be fighting a strong breeze all day.

The first tiny glimmer of hope comes on the morning of Thursday, August 21st, finally. The swell drops right down to 3ft from the SSW, the wind eases back to a light breeze from the SE, and the combined energy is a modest (574). The guidance tells me this spot needs the swell from the S, and this is SSW, so not ideal, but it’s the only time in the whole 16 days where the wind is even trying to be kind. We get a "gentle cross-onshore" wind, and it’s only a "marginal" call, but it’s the best we’ve got. After two weeks of strong winds and rain, a clean, small wave at The Wharf on Thursday the 21st afternoon would feel like paradise. It’s a consistent break, so waves will be there, just small.

For the rest of the window, don’t bother. It’s a long, flat, and windy run. Forecasts can change, but right now, that Thursday the 21st is your only real play, and it’s a low-percentage one at best.

Rusty.

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