Westport-The Groins Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here with a look at what's coming down the line for Westport. Don't expect any fireworks, but there's a few windows where you can get a wet suit on and actually enjoy yourself.

The first real chance to paddle out comes Friday, July 25th, late. The whole run-up to that is pretty much a write-off with weak, messy swell and cross-shore winds. Friday morning starts to clean up with a solid offshore breeze from the S at 25 km/h, but the swell is tiny at 0.5m. It’s the afternoon that gets interesting. The swell bumps up to 0.9m from the SW, with a clean offshore wind swinging around to the SSW at 20 km/h. The energy is moderate (774) and the waves will be clean and lined up. This is a good one for a beginner-friendly session, as it’s small and clean.

The weekend of July 26th and 27th is where the best of the forecast sits. Saturday morning stays clean with a gentle S offshore at 15 km/h, and the same 0.9m SW swell pumping. The energy is still moderate (674). Sunday is the standout. The swell picks up to 1.1m from the SW, and the wind goes light and cross-offshore from the SW at 10 km/h. The water temp is sitting at 15°, which is about average for this time of year, so you won't be freezing. The combined energy climbs to 935 (moderate), and the waves are going to be clean, with some push. The period is 19 seconds, a nice long groundswell, so expect longer lulls but better-shaped waves peeling off the jetty. This is about as good as it gets for this window, and it's a great option for beginners and intermediates.

Monday, July 28th, keeps the run of clean conditions going. Morning and afternoon both show light cross-offshore winds and 0.9m SW swell. It’s consistent and clean, but not as punchy as Sunday.

From Tuesday July 29th through to the end of the run, things get ugly. The wind swings onshore from the NW and stays there, chopping up even the building swell. The waves get bigger, with a pulse of 1.5m to 2.2m coming through from the WNW around August 4th and 5th, but the onshore winds will turn it into a washing machine. It’s a classic case of "too much wind, too much chop." Honestly, for a beach/jetty setup like this, that bigger, messy swell and strong cross-onshore wind is going to be more fun for kite surfers than paddle surfers. The period drops to 8 seconds too, which is just short-period wind chop. There's a long stretch of poor conditions from the end of July right through to the end of the forecast.

So, to sum it up: the pick of the litter is Sunday, July 27th at Westport-The Groins (Westport). The 1.1m SW swell with light, clean winds and that long 19-second period will be the best you'll see. The crowds are only sometimes an issue, so you might have it to yourself. The Saturday before and the Monday after are also clean and worth a look. Don't hold your breath for anything after that.

Rusty.

Read more