Grey, windless Monday

Dee Why around 0730.

Hello Friends,

Late last night at around the time Federer was faltering in the last set, my wife mentions that she can hear the beach (we’re a km away). Dee Why Rob has skyped me too. There’s a spike in the long period component on the MHL buoy. And ‘lo, he’s right.

And then I woke up this morning. And the spike looks like a picture of Batman (see below). Curious.

But what we have instead is a metre of 6 sec period windswell from the east. And that makes for just about flat conditions where beaches like Dee Why are concerned. I’m not too hopeful that it will be much better than that anywhere else in our region. About the best looking conditions where the buoys concerned, are up on the far north coast. But the numbers aren’t too exciting; maybe a couple metres at about 8 seconds.

Interesting news on cyclone Ellie. It’s now turned into a rain depression, but the weather people think the resulting trough could move back offshore and spin back up into a cyclone. Given its location though, I’d say we’d have to be lucky for it to actually become a surf generator.

The long range forecasts which looked kind of interesting at the weekend, now seem slightly less so. For starters, none of the interpretations I’ve looked at are showing our region getting much more than a metre or so of windswell for the next 4-6 days. However, my speculation yesterday about a possible shift in the dominant pattern still seems at least a little plausible. Both the monsoon trough and the southern ocean storms look as though they might start sucking a little of the intensity out of the accursed trans-Tasman high. As the high weakens, then we’ll get at least a bit more variety in the outlook.

Another day of magazine proofing coming for me. So just as well the surf prospects aren’t too flash (he says selfishly). Go well with whatever you have on today and if you’re into twitter and so inclined, stay in touch via my slot at mr_realsurf!

Manly Hydraulics Lab's Sydney buoy

Same as it ever was…

Not a ripple in Dee Why this morning. Go to work or back to bed.  Tranquil, hot humid, overcast, opressive and uncomfortable. Looks like some Melbourne weather headed our way.

C C

Overcast, humid and warm on the Central Coast this Monday morning.  The swell is smooth, weak and very small at 1 – 2 feet from the east northeast.  There is a light northwest breeze forecast to strengthen later from the northeast.  Low tide 0750 and high tide around 1450.  Local barometer 1014 hpa, 94% humidity, 20 degrees C.  Have a great week.

Localism: LA style

Following on from our story yesterday on localism and the idea of the Commons, I came across what purports to be The Rules for surfing in LA on a site called wanderus.com. It’s called Knowing the Unspoken Rules of Surfing in Los Angeles

Here’s a taste:

3. Nobody Cares How Much Money You Have or What Car You Drive

Money talks at The Ivy. And Spago. And wherever else the monied class chooses to congregate. Money means nothing in the water. Waves cannot be bought. Respect cannot be paid for. Your surfing and behavior speak for themselves. That $70,000 car that you arrived at the break in could be a $70,000 car with waxed windows and flattened tires by the time you and your superior attitude emerge from the water. Remember, your position on the surfing totem pole remains the same whether you are rich or poor.

(The short version is: learn the rules, obey the pecking order, be patient and work your way up,  stay out of the way, squatters rights apply, don’t stare, respect women surfers, look after your gear, pick up rubbish.)

Have any thoughts on this? Why not use the comments form below?

Its grey and windy on the Sunshine Coast but

there are plenty of bumps but they are not realy surfable due to the constant on shore winds.Wave height is 2-3 ft depending where you are.Best chance for a wave will be at Noosa or Mooloolaba