Third Reef Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what's on the table for the next 16 days. It's a bit of a mixed bag, with a lot of marginal stuff and a few longer gaps where the surf just isn't happening. The water temp is sitting at 57°F, which is basically bang on average for this time of year, so grab a decent wetsuit and you'll be fine.

The first real action kicks off at Third Reef on Monday, 31st August. We've got a 3ft SSW swell rolling in, with a period of 14 seconds, giving us a moderate wave energy of 506. The wind's a light cross-onshore from the WSW at 6 mph, which is a bit of a bummer, but it's light enough to keep things rideable. The early part of the week is really just a warm-up, though – the surf is there, but it's nothing to write home about.

Things start to look a bit more promising on Thursday, 3rd September. The morning session sees a 3ft SW swell with a very long period of 19 seconds, cranking the energy up to 865. That's the kind of groundswell that brings some real power. The wind is light cross from the south at 3 mph, so it's nearly glassy. That afternoon, the swell jumps to 5ft from the WNW, but the period drops to 10 seconds and the wind goes cross-onshore, so it's a bit of a trade-off.

The standout, and I mean the real standout, is Sunday, 13th September. The afternoon session at Third Reef is looking perfect. You've got a 5ft NW swell, period of 11 seconds, and the energy is still decent at 640. But the best part? The wind is glassy. Dead flat. From the west at a measly 3 mph. That's a major positive and means the waves will be buttery smooth. This is the one to circle on your calendar. It's a bit of a wait, but trust me, it'll be worth it.

Now, for the rest of the run, there are some solid gaps. After the 31st of August, the first week is a bit up and down, but the second week really drops off. We have a big dead zone from the 4th of September right through to the 10th, with mostly poor conditions and strong winds. The 10th of September morning sees a bigger 6ft NW swell, but the wind is a moderate cross-onshore, making it choppy and messy. That's more of a kite-surfing scenario than a clean paddle session.

Friday, 11th September, brings a bit of a reprieve with a 3ft SSW swell and a 16-second period, but the energy is still high at 1242. The wind is light onshore, so it's not great, but it's not terrible either. The real action then picks up again on the 12th and 13th, leading into that Sunday glass-off.

So, to sum it up: the first week is a bit of a slog, but if you're patient, the 13th of September afternoon is the clear winner. The water's average, the swell's solid, and the wind is perfect. Get out there.

Rusty

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