Nanwan Beach (South Bay) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right, gather 'round, grab a seat. Rusty here, and I've gotta be straight with you – the next couple of weeks are looking pretty grim for a proper paddle. We've got one spot on the radar, Nanwan Beach (South Bay), but it's a tale of two halves. The water's sitting at a balmy 84°F, which is bang on average for this time of year, so at least you won't be freezing while you're sitting there waiting for something decent.

The outlook starts on Thursday the 27th of August, but don't get excited. We've got a 7ft SW swell rolling in, but the wind is a nasty cross-off from the west at 22 mph, and there's a storm risk. The energy is there (568), but it's just messy. The forecast keeps repeating this pattern through Friday the 28th – same swell size, same poor conditions. It's a real shame.

We finally get a glimmer of hope on Saturday the 29th. The morning is still a bit dodgy with a cross-shore wind, but by Saturday afternoon, the wind drops to a light breeze from the west at 6 mph, switching to a clean cross-off. The swell is a touch smaller at 7ft from the SSW with a 9-second period, but the energy is solid (608). It's going to be the best of a bad bunch, but it's still only a 2 out of 10.

Sunday the 30th and Monday the 31st are a write-off again – wind picks up from the ENE, and the surf goes back to poor. The conditions are a mess. Tuesday the 1st of September is a bit of a tease. The morning remains marginal thanks to a moderate breeze, but by Tuesday afternoon, the wind drops to a light, clean cross-off from the NNE at 6 mph. The swell holds at 6ft from the SW with a 10-second period, and the energy is okay (583). It's clean, but not exactly pumping.

Then, Wednesday the 2nd of September brings a jump in energy – we're talking 1009 and 1067 – but the wind turns onshore and cross-shore, making it lumpy and choppy. The swell is 7ft to 8ft, which is pushing into intermediate territory, but the wind ruins it. Thursday the 3rd is more of the same with strong, clean cross-off winds but a big bump in energy to 1216 with a 8ft SSW swell. The forecast calls it marginal, and honestly, for a beach and reef setup, that much energy with a strong wind is a pass for me.

After the 4th of September, the whole thing falls apart. Swell drops to under 3ft, and we're looking at a long stretch of tiny, weak surf. From the 4th of September right through to the 11th of September, the energy levels are pathetic, mostly under 200, and the waves are tiny. There's a moment on the 5th of September with a light offshore wind and a 3ft swell, but it's just "surfable" – not worth a drive. The 7th of September goes glassy, but the swell is only 2ft. It's a flat spell, plain and simple.

So, the only real standout, and I'm being generous, is late Saturday afternoon the 29th of August. The clean cross-off and light wind make it the most surfable window. Tuesday the 1st of September afternoon is the second option. Don't get your hopes up for anything else. The rest of the 16 days is a long, quiet gap with no real recommendations. A blank run like this is pretty normal for the area when the patterns don't line up. Forecasts can change, but right now, I'd be looking for a different hobby for a while.

Rusty.

Read more