Whitsand Bay and Tregantle Surf Forecast and Surf Report

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

Honestly, if you’re sitting on your board waiting for a wave, you’ll be doing a lot of floating. The first week and a half is a flat spell. From Friday the 7th all the way through to the morning of Tuesday the 18th, it’s pretty much a write-off. We’re looking at tiny swell with heights barely reaching 1 ft to 2 ft at best, and most of the time the combined energy is just a whisper – we’re talking figures like 9 (weak energy) to 57 (weak energy). The wind is a mixed bag, but the waves just aren’t there. You’d be better off taking the dog for a walk.

The real story starts to build on Tuesday the 18th. The afternoon finally sees a pulse of life, with the swell pushing to 4 ft from the SW, and the energy jumps to 152 (moderate wave energy). The period is a short 6 seconds, so it’s a bit of a mushy, wind-driven affair, but it’s surfable. The wind is onshore from the WSW at 12 mph, so it’s going to be a bit bumpy.

Then we get to the main event. The standout window is the middle of the second week. Wednesday the 19th is the pick of the lighter days. The morning brings a clean 3 ft swell from the WSW with a decent 8-second period. The energy is solid at 108 (moderate wave energy). The wind is light and cross-onshore from the WNW, keeping the surface just about manageable. Whitsand Bay and Tregantle is the only spot in the game, and it’s an exposed SW-facing beach break, so it’ll catch whatever is coming. The water temp is about average for the time of year, nothing crazy.

Thursday the 20th is still a decent option with a clean 2 ft from the WSW and a gentle cross-shore breeze, but the energy drops back to 63 (weak energy).

Now for the big one. Friday the 21st of August. The models are throwing a proper storm at us. The swell jumps to 8 ft from the SW, with a 736 (strong wave energy) in the morning, and it cranks up to 953 (very strong wave energy) in the afternoon. The period is 8 seconds, so it’s a short, powerful, wind-driven beast. This is expert-only territory. The wind is howling onshore at 22 to 31 mph, so it’s going to be a mess of white water. For the average punter, this setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing. It’s a rough one.

If you’re a beginner, the best you’re looking at is a small, clean window on the morning of Monday the 17th – glassy conditions with a 2 ft swell, but the energy is still low at 57 (weak energy). It’s ankle to knee high, but at least it’s pretty.

To wrap it up: the first week is a total flat calm. The second week offers a couple of clean, small days on the 19th and 20th, but the 21st is a big, windy, expert-only beast. Keep your eyes on the charts, because right now we’re waiting for the real energy to turn up.

Rusty.

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