30th Street/Ship Bottom Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right, let’s have a look at what’s on offer for 30th Street/Ship Bottom over the next couple of weeks.

Honestly, mate, it’s a bit of a quiet stretch for the most part. We’re looking at a long run of small, weak waves with onshore or cross-shore winds messing things up. There’s a real gap in quality surf here, with most days showing poor conditions and very low energy. The combined energy of all swells is mostly showing weak numbers (under 100), with just a few brief spikes into moderate territory.

The water temp is about average for the time of year, nothing crazy to report.

Tuesday the 21st is a write-off – small SSE swell at 4 ft, a short period of 5 seconds, and a cross wind from the SSE at 16 mph. Choppy, messy, and the energy is a weak 78. Not worth paddling out.

Wednesday the 22nd starts to show a glimmer of hope. The morning’s still poor with a 4 ft S swell, 8-second period, and cross-off wind from the WSW. But by Wednesday afternoon, things look a lot better. We’ve got a 6 ft S swell, still 8 seconds, but the wind is offshore from the W at 12 mph. That’s clean, and the energy jumps to 593 (moderate). This is the best on offer in the whole outlook – it’s the only time the waves get over 5 ft, and the offshore wind will make it clean. It’s a bit much for beginners, but for the rest of us, it’s the standout. Expect some crowds, as it’s a spot that sometimes gets busy.

From Thursday the 23rd onward, it’s a long, slow decline. Swell drops to 3 ft or less, periods are short, and winds are onshore or cross-onshore from the east and northeast. Energy stays weak, mostly under 100. There’s a brief moment on Thursday the 30th of July afternoon with a 4 ft S swell, 8-second period, and offshore wind from the W at 19 mph, giving a clean surf and 273 energy (moderate). It’s still a marginal call, though. And again on Friday the 31st of July morning, we get a glassy morning with NNE wind at 3 mph, but the swell is a tiny 3 ft from the SSE, period only 7 seconds, and energy a weak 63. Surfable, but nothing to get excited about.

The rest of the run into early August is flat and glassy at times, with tiny 2 ft to 2 ft swells and no real power. It’s a long gap of poor surf.

So, if you’re keen, the standout is definitely Wednesday the 22nd of July afternoon. Get out then for the cleanest, most solid waves of the stretch. Otherwise, it’s a waiting game.

Rusty.

Read more