Yonabaru Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, let’s talk about what’s headed our way. This is Rusty, looking at the outlook for Yonabaru, and I gotta be straight with you – it’s gonna be a tough stretch. We’re looking at a solid 12-day period of, well, frustration. The wind is a constant problem, and the swell is just not cooperating.

The first week and a half is a write-off. From Sunday, August 30th right through the start of the second week, we’ve got a persistent run of onshore and cross-onshore winds. The wind speeds are mostly in the 12-18 mph range, making a mess of things. The water temp is about average for this time of year, but you won’t care about that when you’re staring at chop. The swell shows up, but the quality is just poor. The combined wave energy is moderate at best, hitting a few hundred (like 154 on Sunday morning), but it’s all wind-slop. There’s a pulse of energy on the 7th and 8th of September, with the combined energy climbing into the 600-800 range, but the wind is howling at 22-31 mph, creating lumpy, messy, blown-out conditions. Not worth it.

Now, after this long, bleak run, we finally get a glimmer of hope. The standout window is Friday, September 11th, through Saturday, September 12th. This is the one to circle on your calendar.

Friday the 11th offers a dramatic shift. In the afternoon, the wind swings around to the WNW at a light 6 mph – a clean, cross-offshore breeze. The swell comes from the SE with a very long period of 13 seconds (strong groundswell energy). The combined energy jumps to 1309 (strong). The wave comment says "expect very good surf conditions". The swell height is a solid 5 ft, which is a nice size for a lot of boards. This is a great setup, but keep in mind that long period swell like this can be a bit straight at beach breaks, so look for a sandbar that’s working. Crowds are sometimes an issue here, so be prepared for a few others who’ve been waiting out the crap.

Saturday the 12th is a different beast. This is for the big dogs only. The morning and afternoon see a massive pulse of energy from the ESE, with a combined swell energy reading of 21,863 and 39,366 – that’s very strong, dangerous energy. The swell is predicted to be 21 ft to 23 ft with a period of 16 seconds. The wind is clean from the NNW (cross-offshore), but this is not a recommended spot for this. The forecast literally says it’s "too big for this break." This is expert-only territory and honestly, most of us will be watching from the beach. The swell direction is off the optimum for the break, and the size is just overwhelming.

So, to wrap it up: For the next 11 days, don’t bother. Wait for that clean, cross-offshore window on Friday afternoon, September 11th for the best chance at a decent, clean session. Saturday the 12th is a spectacle for the brave and the crazy, but not a practical surf day for most.

Stay patient, and keep your wax dry.

Rusty.

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