Wainui Beach - Schools Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s coming down the line for our local patch.

We’re kicking off on Sunday, August 23rd, and the first read is a bit of a slow start. The swell is small, but there’s a glimmer of hope. The standout session for the whole outlook is going to be Thursday afternoon, August 27th, at Wainui Beach - Schools. That’s the one to circle on the calendar.

So, through the opening days, we’ve got small, surfable waves but nothing to write home about. Sunday morning sees a 2 ft SE swell with an 11-second period, but the real story is the water temp. It’s sitting at 55°F, about 3°F colder than usual for this time of year, so you’ll feel that nip. The energy is weak (96), but the wind is a clean offshore from the NW, so the surface will be decent even if the waves are tiny.

Monday morning, August 24th, picks up a touch with a 3 ft SSE swell, period 9 seconds, and light NW offshore winds. The combined energy is moderate (129), but it’s still just surfable, not special.

Tuesday morning, August 25th, we see a cleaner 3 ft SSE swell with a 12-second period, giving the waves a bit more shape. The energy is moderate (237) and the offshore breeze is light. It’s a step up, but not the highlight.

Now, Wednesday morning, August 26th, is interesting. The swell is only 2 ft, but the period jumps to 17 seconds – that’s a very long period groundswell rolling in. This kind of energy (213) usually means long, clean lines, but it can be a bit too straight for the beach break. For a reef and point setup like this, it could be gold.

Then we hit the jackpot. Thursday, August 27th, is the best day on offer. The morning has a 3 ft SSE swell with a 16-second period, and the energy is already strong (497). But the afternoon is where it’s at. The swell bumps up to 3 ft, the period lengthens to 17 seconds, and the combined energy surges to a very strong 644. The wind is a gentle NW offshore, meaning the waves will be clean and lined up. This is a proper session for the advanced crew. The swell direction is SSE, which is the optimum direction for this spot. Crowds are possible, so get in the water early.

The rest of the week and into the next is a bit of a mixed bag. Friday the 28th and Saturday the 29th are surfable but more ordinary, with the energy dropping back to moderate. The wind stays mostly offshore, keeping things clean.

Now, looking into the second week, things get interesting for the experienced surfers only. On Monday, August 31st, the swell jumps to 7 ft from the SSW, but with a short 8-second period. The energy is high (794), but the wave comment says it’s predicted to be too big for this break. That’s a warning. Tuesday, September 1st, morning is the real standout for the big stuff. A 6 ft SSE swell with a 15-second period and a massive combined energy of 1448. The wind is offshore from the NW, and the conditions are described as excellent for experienced surfers. This is heavy, powerful groundswell. If you’re not an expert, stay on the beach.

After that, the swell fades back down to small, ordinary waves for the rest of the first week of September. By Sunday, September 6th, the forecast shows a 16 ft SSW swell – that’s a massive, dangerous amount of energy (12,709). That is not for paddle surfing; that’s for the big-wave chargers on a tow-in setup, or more likely, it’s a kite-surfing day. The same goes for Monday, September 7th, with 13 ft swells.

So, to wrap it up: the best bet is Thursday afternoon, August 27th. That’s the one with the clean 3 ft groundswell and perfect offshore wind. For the big-wave hunters, Tuesday morning, September 1st, is your window, but respect the size. Everything else is small and average.

Rusty.

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