Tip Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Righto, let’s get stuck into this one. Looks like Tip Beach is going to have a pretty average couple of weeks, to be honest. A lot of chop, a lot of blown-out afternoons, and only a few windows where it cleans up enough to be worth a look.

We kick off Saturday the 22nd of August with a moderate 4ft SW swell, but that 25 km/h cross-off wind from the WSW is making things messy. The wave energy is moderate (161), but the report says it’s poor. Not one to wet the wetsuit for. The afternoon jumps to a 8ft SW swell—that’s getting solid—but it’s short period at 8 seconds and the wind picks up to 30 km/h. The combined energy is strong (1032), but it’s gonna be a washing machine, way too big and messy for most. That’s more a kiter’s setup than a paddler’s.

Sunday the 23rd morning shows a glimmer. Swell drops to 4ft from the S, period a modest 9 seconds, but the wind swings to a light 5 km/h WSW cross-off. Energy is moderate (340), and the forecast bumps up to “expect good surf conditions.” That’s the best of the early window. Clean enough, but short period means the shape won’t be anything special.

After that, things go flat and ordinary. Monday the 24th has a tiny 3ft S swell with light winds, but it’s “very ordinary.” The rest of the week into late August sees nothing but knee-high, weak S and NE swells, rarely cracking 2ft, with cross-onshore winds spoiling any chance of quality. There’s a run from the 25th morning right through to the 31st where nothing is really worthwhile. A few mornings are clean, but the swell is gutless—combined energy often under 200, once as low as 76. That’s weak.

There’s a bit of a spike on Tuesday the 1st of September. A 4ft SW swell in the morning with light wind, and then the afternoon brings a 4ft S swell with a long period of 12 seconds (a proper groundswell) and a decent energy reading of 476. Problem is, the wind is a moderate 20 km/h cross-off—still clean-ish, but the report calls it “marginal.” That longer period will produce better shaped waves, but it’s not the standout it could be with that wind.

The only real standout in this entire 16-day run is on Friday the 4th of September morning. Swell bumps to 5ft from the SSW, with a short period of 7 seconds, but the wind is a glassy 5 km/h WSW—almost calm. The energy is moderate (248), and the forecast says “expect good surf conditions.” For Tip Beach, that’s the pick. Clean, head-high peaks with offshore flow. Beginners might find it a tad punchy at that size, but it’s surfable. The afternoon goes to 4ft but with a 20 km/h cross-chop, so get in before lunch.

The following weekend (September 5-6) drops back to weak, southerly windswell, onshore, and not worth chasing.

Overall, the first week is a write-off except for that Sunday morning. The second week has that one promising Friday morning, but it’s a long way out, so stay loose. For the area, it’s a dry spell, but it doesn’t stay poor forever.

– Rusty

Read more