Watergate Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the menu for the next couple of weeks.

Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you – this is a lean stretch. The water is sitting at 65°F, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, so that’s a nice bonus if you’re in the water, but the waves are a whole different story. For the first week and a half, we’ve got a real dry spell. From Wednesday afternoon the 26th of August all the way through to the 5th of September, it’s pretty much a write-off. The swell is small, the wind is messy, and the energy is weak – that combined energy sits at just 42 (weak) on the 26th, and it rarely climbs into the moderate range during that stretch. There’s a couple of moments where the wind goes clean, like Saturday morning the 29th (cross-off, clean), but with a short period swell and poor surf conditions flagged, it’s not worth paddling for.

Then, there’s a noticeable gap of nothing recommended until the 6th of September. That’s when things finally turn.

Sunday the 6th of September is our standout. Both the morning and afternoon at Watergate Bay are looking proper. Swell is a solid 6 ft out of the west, with a 10-second period – that’s a decent groundswell with some energy behind it. The wind is offshore out of the southeast, moderate breeze, but clean. Combined energy is 518 (moderate), so there’s enough push to get you into something fun. The guidance says this spot is fairly exposed to the west, and with the optimum swell direction coming from the WNW, this is a perfect match. The break is a beginner-friendly beach, but with 6 ft and offshore conditions, it’ll be a great session for anyone who can handle a bit of size. Crowds are often here, so expect some company.

Monday the 7th of September morning is also worth a mention. Same clean offshore wind from the SSE, 5 ft swell from the west, 8-second period, and combined energy at 365 (moderate). It’s a bit smaller and a touch shorter period than Sunday, but still a very good option if you missed the weekend.

The rest of the second week falls off again. By the 8th, the wind goes onshore or cross-onshore, the swell drops, and the energy fades back into the weak range. The 9th and 10th of September have some strong winds and messy conditions, so it’s back to waiting.

So, if you’re after a wave, circle the 6th and 7th of September on your calendar. Everything else is a skunk.

Rusty.

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