Watermans Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get into what’s on the cards for the next couple of weeks.

We’ve got a proper run of solid swell coming through, but the early part of the week is a bit of a write-off thanks to the wind. The good news is, it cleans up nicely later on, and there are a couple of absolute gems to look forward to.

The first real chance to get wet is Tuesday morning, the 18th of August. We’re looking at a hefty 13ft swell from the WSW, with a very long period of 16 seconds. That’s a lot of energy in the water – 7293 on the combined energy scale – so it’s a powerful, ground-driven swell. The problem is, the wind is howling onshore from the W at 6 mph, which is going to chop it up. It’s not great, but it’s the start of the run. The water temp is bang on average for the time of year, so no worries there.

Wednesday is much the same story, with a solid 10ft swell on the afternoon, but that cross-onshore wind is still messing with the surface. Not worth jumping for.

Now, Thursday the 20th of August is where it gets interesting. The morning session is a real standout. We’ve got a 10ft groundswell from the WSW, a 16-second period, and the wind is dead calm – glassy conditions. That’s a proper clean, powerful line-up. The combined energy is 4242, so it’s got some punch. This is a big swell though, well over 8ft, so this is for the experienced crew only. Beginners, sit this one out.

Friday the 21st of August morning is another beauty. The swell has dropped a touch to 8ft, but the wind has swung light offshore from the E at 3 mph. Clean, lined-up waves. This is a much more manageable size for the advanced intermediate. The combined energy is 2207, so it’s energetic but not terrifying.

Moving into the weekend, Saturday the 22nd holds up fairly well. The swell is 7ft, and while the wind is a cross-offshore from the NE at 16 mph, the morning is still looking clean. The afternoon glass-off with a light NNE breeze looks even better for a solid 7ft session.

Sunday the 23rd is a washout. Rain, strong onshore winds, and the swell drops off. Avoid it.

The following week is a mixed bag. Monday the 24th morning offers a clean 6ft swell with a light cross-offshore breeze – that’s a nice, mellow session for the experienced. Tuesday the 25th is poor again with rain and onshore wind.

But then we get to Wednesday the 26th of August. The morning is a proper glass-off with a 6ft swell from the WSW. That’s clean, fat, and workable. The combined energy is 1447 – moderate, but the clean conditions make it a lovely paddle.

Thursday the 27th of August morning is the same story: dead calm, 6ft swell, glassy. Another excellent morning for experienced surfers.

Then, looking into the second week, we’ve got a promising long-range call. Friday the 28th of August is a genuine standout. The morning is clean with a 6ft swell and a gentle offshore breeze from the ENE at 9 mph. The afternoon is even better. The swell bumps up to 8ft with that same offshore wind, and the period stretches to 18 seconds – that’s very long period groundswell. The combined energy jumps to 4839. This is a powerful, clean, well-shaped swell. Again, that 8ft mark is expert territory, but the wind and swell direction are perfect for Watermans, which is a reef break and loves a good WSW groundswell. This is the best option of the whole run, but it’s a week and a half out, so it’s a promising call, not a guarantee.

Saturday the 29th of August holds a 8ft swell with a cross-offshore breeze, but the wind is a bit stronger. Still, it’s clean.

The tail end of the window goes to hell. A massive storm swell hits on the 31st of August, with 13ft waves and a 31 mph near-gale onshore wind. That is completely blown out, and the combined energy of 15539 is off the charts. It’s dangerous, not for surfing. That mess continues into the first of September.

The very last call, on Wednesday the 2nd of September, is a final clean-up. A 7ft swell with a light cross-offshore breeze. A nice way to end the run.

So, to sum it up: The absolute best on offer is the Friday afternoon of the 28th of August – that combination of 8ft, 18-second groundswell, and a gentle offshore breeze is the one to circle. The next best is the glassy morning of Thursday the 20th of August. Expect crowds at Watermans, especially on those standouts, as it’s a reef break that can get busy.

Stay safe, and I’ll see you out there.

Rusty

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