Winki Pop Surf Forecast and Surf Report

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

We’ve got a solid run of surf coming up at Winki Pop (VIC), but you’ll need to be patient for the real gems. The early part of the week is a bit of a warm-up, but the standout window is a few days out.

Friday the 17th kicks off with a punchy 5ft SW groundswell, with a very long period of 16 seconds and a strong combined energy of 1368. The morning has a light NNW cross-off breeze, which will keep things clean for the experienced crew. This is a powerful, lined-up swell – perfect for a reef and point like this, but it’s got some grunt, so it’s for the advanced crew only. The water temp is sitting at 57°, which is pretty much what you’d expect for this time of year, no surprises there.

The swell drops right back over the weekend. Saturday the 18th sees the swell fade to 3ft, and by Sunday the 19th it’s a tiny 2ft. The wind is good – offshore and glassy at times – but the waves are just too small to get excited about. It’s flat by Winki standards.

Monday the 20th and Tuesday the 21st stay small, with the swell bouncing between 2ft and 3ft. The wind stays offshore, so it’s clean, but you’re really just scratching around for a knee-high ripple.

Wednesday the 22nd offers a glimmer of hope. The morning is a bit weak at 2ft, but the afternoon sees a jump to 3ft SW at 14 seconds, with a cross-off breeze. It’s rideable, but nothing special.

Now, Thursday the 23rd is where things start to get interesting. The morning brings a 5ft SSW swell, still a good 14-second period, and clean cross-off winds. The energy is ramping up to 947, and this is a very good, solid session for the experienced surfer.

Friday the 24th is the big dog. The morning is a chunky 7ft SW swell, and the afternoon is a full-on 12ft SW swell with a massive 6351 on the energy scale. That’s a serious amount of water moving. The wind is cross-off, so it’ll be clean, but at that size, this is strictly for experts only. Too big for anyone else. It’s a beast of a day.

Saturday the 25th and Sunday the 26th are a bit more manageable, with the swell dropping back to 5ft and 4ft. The wind stays offshore or cross-off, so the quality is still there for a good session.

The next real standout is Monday the 27th. A solid 5ft SW swell with a 14-second period and moderate offshore winds. The energy is 771, and the conditions are very good. This is a top-notch session.

Tuesday the 28th is the absolute best of the forecast. You’re looking at an 8ft SSW groundswell, with a very long 15-second period, and a combined energy of 4073. The wind is a fresh offshore from the NNW, so it’ll be clean and powerful. This is a big, serious swell, again for experts only. If you’ve got the skill, this is the day to be out at Winki. The morning is the pick, with the afternoon getting a bit windier.

After that, the swell backs off for the rest of the week into the first days of August. Wednesday the 29th and Thursday the 30th are smaller and the wind gets stronger, making it harder work. Friday the 31st has a promising 3ft, very long-period 18-second SW groundswell, with moderate offshore winds, so that could be a sneaky good one for the patient surfer.

Saturday the 1st of August is a write-off with strong onshore cross-winds and a messy, lumpy sea. Not worth the drive.

Best on offer: The standout is undeniably Tuesday the 28th for the big, powerful, clean groundswell – but it’s for the experts. The next best is Monday the 27th for a more accessible but still excellent session, and Thursday the 23rd is a solid, very good day as well.

Crowds are likely to be there at Winki Pop, especially on the good days, so be ready for that.

Rusty.

Read more