The Wharf Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s get straight into it. We’ve got The Wharf on the radar, and honestly, the next 16 days are a bit of a mixed bag. The good news is that there’s consistent swell on the way, but it’s mostly blown out by onshore winds. This reef break is a consistent performer, and it’s exposed to the south, which is exactly where the swell is coming from. The water temp is about average for the time of year, so nothing weird there.

Looking at the start, from Monday the 24th of August through to the end of the month, it’s a frustrating run. The swell is there – mostly 3ft to 6ft from the south and southeast, with some long-period groundswell in the mix (16 seconds or so) – but the wind is relentless. Southeast and easterly winds are howling at 22 to 35 km/h, onshore or cross-onshore, making it messy. The combined energy is moderate, around 422 to 770 for most of that time, but it’s not translating into clean waves. There’s a little bit of a break on Sunday the 30th afternoon with a gentle cross-shore at 15 km/h, but the swell is only 3ft and the period is still 16 seconds. It’s choppy, but maybe you could get a few.

The first week of September doesn’t bring much relief. The wind stays onshore from the southeast and east, 15 to 25 km/h, and the swell hangs around 2ft to 4ft. The period varies a lot – some short 6-second stuff, some long 18 to 20 seconds. The energy is all over the place, from a weak 241 up to a moderate 306. Still, poor surf conditions are the story.

Now, here’s where it gets interesting. The second week – around the 4th, 5th, and 6th of September – the swell really starts to build. On Friday the 4th afternoon, we’re looking at 4ft from the south with a 19-second period, and the combined energy jumps to 1301. That’s strong, and it’s a proper groundswell. The wind is still onshore from the east at 25 km/h, but the energy is there. Saturday the 5th is similar, 4ft from the south at 15 seconds, but with a moderate cross-onshore breeze. And then Sunday the 6th – that’s the standout. The morning shows 3ft from the south with a 22-second period, which is a very long period, and the energy is 1499. The wind is onshore from the southeast at 25 km/h, but for a reef break like The Wharf, that long-period swell could line up beautifully. The crowd situation is “sometimes” busy, so you might have to share it.

Still, the wind is the big issue. If it swings offshore or goes lighter, this spot would be firing. But as it stands, the best on offer is the Sunday the 6th of September, with that massive, long-period groundswell. It’s powerful, but it’s not too big for intermediates – 3ft is a solid, manageable size. The direction is bang on from the south, which is the optimum for this break. The downside is the onshore wind, but if you’re feeling patient, the sets will be worth it. For the more adventurous, the 7th of September keeps the energy high, with 5ft from the south and 17 seconds, but the wind is still onshore. That’s expert territory, though.

So, overall, we’ve got a gap of poor conditions for the first week and a half, then a real spike in energy in the second week. The 6th of September is the pick – it’s not clean, but it’s got the juice. Keep an eye on the wind, because if it changes, The Wharf could be a gem.

Rusty.

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