Turtles Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. We’ve got a solid run of swell on the way for Turtles (reef). It’s an advanced spot, exposed and fairly consistent, so it takes a solid south-southwest groundswell to light up. The water’s sitting at 72°, which is about average for the time of year. This is a big energy period, with combined energy values hitting four digits most days, topping out near 4856 (strong to very strong wave energy) on the Monday morning of the 7th. That’s a proper groundswell with a 17-second period, and it’s bringing 10ft of swell from the SW. The wind is a cross-off from the SSE at 19 mph, so the face will be clean. The only catch is the size – at 10ft, this is expert territory only. Still, for those who charge, Monday morning, September 7th, is the standout call; the swell is big, the period is long, and the wind is offshore-angled.

The waves ease slightly through the rest of the first week. Tuesday morning, September 8th, has a 8ft SW swell with a 16-second period, but the wind is a cross-off from the SE at 22 mph, so it stays clean. Wednesday morning, September 9th, is the cleanest of the lot with an offshore ESE breeze at 19 mph, a 7ft SW swell, and a 16-second period. The combined energy is still 2173 (strong), so there’s plenty of push, but the wind is fresh and offshore, giving you a glassy face. Wednesday afternoon drops to a gentle breeze, but it’s cross-off and still clean. For experienced surfers, Wednesday morning is the best of the mid-week.

Thursday morning, September 10th, is a real jewel. The swell drops to 6ft from the WSW, still 15 seconds, and the wind is a light NNE breeze at 6 mph, making it near glassy. The combined energy is 1289 (moderate), and the conditions are described as excellent for experienced surfers. That’s a solid session for the crew who know the reef. The afternoon turns onshore with a WNW wind, so morning is the call.

From Friday, September 11th, through the weekend, the wind gets messy – cross-onshore and choppy, with swell around 4ft to 7ft. The combined energy bounces around, but the wind kills the quality. Saturday morning, the 12th, has a 7ft WSW swell with a 17-second period, but it’s onshore, so it’s a no-go for paddle surfing. The setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing on those days.

The second week brings a mixed bag. Monday, September 14th, has a 7ft SW swell, 14-second period, with a gentle cross-shore breeze in the morning, making it rideable but with slight chop. Tuesday and Wednesday keep the swell around 7ft to 5ft, but the afternoons are blown out. Thursday, September 17th, is weak with 4ft swell and 673 combined energy, and the wind is cross-shore and lumpy. Then Friday morning, September 18th, shows a pulse: a 7ft WSW swell with a 17-second period, and a cross-off SSE wind at 19 mph, giving clean conditions. The combined energy is 3550 (strong), so it’s a promising, powerful end to the week. But it’s a long-range call, so less certain.

The best on offer is Monday morning, September 7th, for the big, clean, expert-only groundswell. The secondary standout is Thursday morning, September 10th, for the glassy, excellent conditions on a smaller but still solid swell. For the rest, keep an eye on the wind and pick the mornings.

Rusty.

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