The Wharf Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, this is Rusty comin' at ya from the beach. Let's get into it.

The only game in town for the next couple of weeks is The Wharf. It's a consistent reef break that likes a south swell, but the wind is gonna be the main character here, and it's not a friendly one for most of the forecast. The water temp is about average for this time of year, so no surprises there.

We kick off on the morning of July 27th with a bit of hope. The Wharf is seeing a 4ft south swell with a 12-second period, and the combined energy is a moderate 579. The wind is light from the northeast, so it's a little cross-shore, but not too messy. The afternoon cleans up even more with a light NNE breeze and clear skies. This is your best window – the swell drops a touch to 4ft, but it's glassy and clean. The scores are low, but for a surf, this is the pick of the bunch. Don't expect perfection, but it'll be rideable.

Then it all goes south. From Tuesday the 28th onward, the wind turns onshore and stays there. The mornings see a 5ft south swell, but with a strong cross-onshore wind, it's choppy and lumpy. The swell period drops to short and choppy on the 30th and 31st, with fresh onshore winds making it a complete mess. The combined energy drops to weak levels (around 410-413) on the 31st, and the wind is straight onshore. This is not surfable for a paddle.

The first week of August is a write-off. The swell hangs around, but the wind is relentless. From the 1st to the 4th, it's onshore or cross-onshore with moderate to fresh breezes, and the wave quality is poor. The combined energy stays weak to moderate, but it doesn't matter with that wind.

There’s a bit of a swell pulse on the 5th and 6th, with a 7ft to 8ft south swell, but the wind is screaming onshore from the ESE at 30 km/h. The combined energy hits strong levels (over 2000), but with that wind, it's a washing machine. This is only for the hardcore, and even then, it's not going to be pretty. The period is long (14 seconds), which would be great for The Wharf, but the wind kills it.

The second week continues the same story. More onshore wind, more rain, and more poor surf. The swell drops off by the 10th, and the wind is still howling. The very last day, August 11th, sees a long-period 18-second swell from the south at 4ft, but the wind is a strong 45 km/h cross-onshore. The combined energy is moderate (877), but it's going to be a total mess.

So, the honest truth is this: The only real stand-out is the afternoon of July 27th, with that light, clean wind. Grab it if you can. After that, the forecast is a long, frustrating gap of poor conditions. For the size of the swell and the onshore wind, this setup at The Wharf is going to be more interesting for kite surfers than paddle surfers. It's a tough run, but forecasts can change.

Rusty.

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