Winki Pop Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, it’s Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the cards for the Winki Pop stretch over the next couple of weeks. We’ve got a slow burn start, a solid pulse of energy mid-period, and then a bit of a fade before things maybe get interesting again later. Don’t expect much over the next couple of days, but we do have a standout window that’s worth planning for.

The forecast kicks off with the first surf on offer Monday, the 10th of August. Morning’s the pick – we’ve got a 4ft SW swell with a solid 19-second period pushing in. That’s a proper groundswell with strong energy – the combined energy is reading 1073 – and with a moderate offshore breeze, it’s going to be clean and lined up. Winki Pop (Torquay) is fairly exposed to this SW direction, so it should be handling it well. This is a reef and point break, advanced only, and it’s consistent, so expect a few takers. This is the first highlight, honestly. The water temp is about average for this time of year, so not a sting nor a warm one.

But the afternoon falls away pretty quickly. The wind swings around to a fresh SW cross-shore at 19 mph and it just gets lumpy and messy. Poor conditions. Not worth the paddle.

Tuesday the 11th sees the swell ease back a bit to 3ft, still SW, period 15 seconds. It’s clean all day with a moderate offshore, so there are waves, but the energy drops off. Not huge, but there’s something workable if you’re keen. Still, it’s not a standout.

Then Wednesday the 12th things start to build again. We’ve got 5ft – 6ft SW swell, period 16 seconds, and the wind turns cross-offshore. The energy’s jumping up, but the wave comment’s a bit ordinary – marginal tide conditions. The waves are getting bigger, but it’s not totally clean. Still, the afternoon looks okay, with 6ft and a moderate cross-off. Worth a look if you’re an experienced surfer.

Thursday the 13th is more of the same – 7ft SW, 16 second period, clean conditions with cross-off winds. Energy’s strong. Still carrying that “marginal” tag, but you can feel the swell building. This is when it starts to get serious.

Now, the standout. Friday the 14th. The pulse arrives. Morning we’re looking at 8ft of SSW swell with a 17-second period, and the energy is cranked – 3845. That’s strong, very strong. Winds are a gentle cross-off, so it’s going to be clean. This is the best on offer in this whole run. It’s big, it’s powerful, and it’s only for experts. Over 8ft, you need to know what you’re doing. The period is long, so it’ll be walled at a beach break, but at a reef and point like Winki Pop, it’ll be threading. This is the day. The afternoon holds up with 7ft, still good.

Saturday the 15th is a step down, around 6ft but the wind goes cross-shore and light. It gets a bit scratchy with some ripples, so not as clean. Energy drops back. Not a patch on Friday.

From Sunday the 16th onwards, it fades and the wind turns onshore. ESE cross-on, then SE onshore. Swell drops to 5ft and under. Poor to marginal conditions through to the 17th. The wave quality just isn’t there. We’re looking at a big blank gap for good surf from Sunday the 16th until around Thursday the 20th, where we’ve got a couple of days of tiny, clean options in the 1ft – 2ft range. It’s surfable, but very small and ordinary.

There is a slight glimmer in the second week. Tuesday the 18th – could be a sneaky one. We’ve got an 18-second period, 2ft, and it’s glassy in the afternoon. Not much size, but potentially super clean and fun on a longboard. And Friday the 21st sees a slight bump to 2ft – 3ft, still SW and offshore. More of the same – small, but clean.

Basically, your window is from Wednesday the 12th through Friday the 14th, with Friday the 14th the clear standout. After that, it’s small and fairly quiet until late in the run. Winki’s consistent, so it won’t stay flat forever, but for now, make the most of that Friday pulse.

Rusty, signing off.

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