The Wharf Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s talk about The Wharf. It's a solid, consistent reef break for intermediates, getting hit by south swell. But man, the forecast is a rough one for a long stretch. Those trade winds have got us pinned with onshore flow, trashing the surf. Everything is scoring a big fat zero from me. The water is about normal for the time of year, so no surprises there.

From Sunday, August 23rd, right through to about Tuesday, September 1st, it's a total bust. A stiff breeze out of the ESE is blowing 15-20 mph, just tearing the ocean apart. There’s some swell in the water – a mix of SSE and SE swell – but the wind’s got it all messed up and un-surfable. The combined wave energy is moderate to strong, hitting between 600 and 1100 for a lot of this run, but it’s all wind slop and short-period junk. A couple of days with head-high waves, around 6 ft on the 25th and 29th, look way more interesting for the kiteboarders than for paddle surfers.

Things start to look up a touch early in the second week. Around Thursday, September 3rd, the wind finally seems like it might let up, and the swell is looking a whole lot better. A big, long-period groundswell from the SW is lining up. In the morning we're looking at a 3 ft swell from the SW with a period of 18 seconds, and an energy of 894. By the afternoon, it's a 4 ft swell from the SW with a 17-second period and the energy jumps to 1028. That is a very long-period groundswell, and for a reef break like this, that could be something special. It might be tricky on a beach, but on a reef it can just unload.

While I can't call it a true standout, that Thursday the 3rd is the only day that gets my hopes up. It's the best chance for a clean, powerful wave the whole 16-day run. It's still a gamble – wind is everything – but it's the only window with any real sparkle. After that, it fades back into small, weak, and onshore again into the next week.

So, straight talk: the first ten days or so are a complete scratch. The second week offers one little glimmer of hope with a promising SW groundswell hitting the 3rd and 4th of September. It's a long way out, so don't book the boat yet, but keep your eye on that window. For now, the lineup is feeling lonely.

- Rusty

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