Wanjapu Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s break down what’s coming for the next couple of weeks.

First up, we’ve got a solid run of swell on the cards for Wanjapu, but it’s not all perfect. The first recommendation is for Saturday morning, August 8th – that’s where we start. We’re looking at a very strong southerly groundswell, with a combined energy of 3093, so there’s plenty of power in the water. The swell is hitting 8 ft from the SSW with a very long period of 16 seconds. That’s proper groundswell, and it’s going to run down the reef. The wind is light and offshore from the SSW, which is exactly what you want – clean, glassy conditions. The water temperature is about average for this time of year, nothing unusual. This is a standout session for the period, no doubt. The swell is over 8 ft, so this is one for the advanced crew only – beginners should sit this one out. Also, Wanjapu is a reef break, so that long period works in its favour, giving you well-shaped, powerful lines. Crowds are possible, so get in early.

Saturday afternoon, the wind shifts to a cross-shore breeze from the SE, picking up to 12 mph, and the swell stays solid but the conditions get a bit bumpy. The scores drop off, and it’s not the same quality.

The rest of the first week is a bit of a mixed bag. Sunday, August 9th, through to the following Friday, the swell stays in the 6 ft to 8 ft range, but the wind is almost always cross or cross-onshore, and the combined energy is still moderate to strong. The wave state is often described as having a cross-chop or wind ripples, so it’s not going to be that clean, lined-up perfection we saw on Saturday morning. The periods are long, mostly 15-18 seconds, so the swell is still quality, but the wind is the spoiler.

There’s a bit of a bright spot on Thursday afternoon, August 13th. The swell is 8 ft from the SSW, period 16 seconds, combined energy 3038, and the wind is a gentle cross-shore. It’s still a bit textured, but it’s more surfable than the days before and after.

Through the weekend of August 15th-16th, the swell drops a little, but the wind is lighter. Saturday morning, August 15th, has a light offshore wind from the SW and a 4 ft swell – that’s clean but small, and the energy is down to 1361. Sunday afternoon, August 16th, is interesting: a clean cross-offshore wind from the SE at 12 mph, with a 6 ft SSW swell. That’s a nice window for a cleaner wave, but it’s not a standout compared to the first Saturday.

Now, the second week. Tuesday, August 18th, we see a swell direction shift to SW, with a very long period of 20 seconds on Tuesday afternoon. The swell is only 4 ft, but the energy is still strong (2634). That’s a very long period, so the reef will handle it well, but the wind is a moderate cross-shore, so it’s not perfect.

The real event in the second week is Wednesday, August 19th. The swell jumps to 10 ft from the SW, with a period of 18 seconds and the combined energy hits 4974 – that’s very strong wave energy. But the wind is a moderate cross-shore from the SE, so it’s going to be a little messy. That’s a massive swell, and it’s only for experts. The following Thursday and Friday, August 20th and 21st, the swell stays at 8 ft with lighter winds, making for more manageable but still powerful conditions. The light cross-shore on Thursday morning is the pick of that run.

Overall, the standout is without a doubt Saturday morning, August 8th – that offshore wind, the long period, and the solid 8 ft swell is the best you’ll get. The second week has size, but the wind is never as good.

Rusty.

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