Hello Friends,

Had a look at Collaroy and Whiterock as well as Dee Why this morning and can report that the south swell has just too brief a period to really get around into the corners. The swell went south before daybreak and by 0830 had ramped up to three metres at sea, but the period is just 7-8 seconds. And that means sets at semi-surfable spots were struggling to get much above the waist high range. If you don’t mind hunting waves in the teeth of a fierce onshore, you could get some bigger faces. However, I didn’t see anyone trying!

Outlook is for the wind to abate during the day and as it does so, I’d expect the swell to subside along with it. From the look of the models, it should hit a peak around midday.

Keeping it brief because I’m getting into we love waves conference mode now and there are lots of little chores to do ahead of the event. If you’d like to come along, you can register at the door. However, we’re really hoping most people will use the online rego instead. Catchya later!

Weather Situation

A cold front will move north along the coast today, with a fresh to strong southerly change spreading throughout. A high will move to the west Tasman Sea in the wake of the front. Another cold front is expected to pass Tasmania on Saturday. High pressure will then build over the southern Tasman Sea and become semi-stationary, with a ridge extending to the north coast of New South Wales through the week.

Forecast for Friday until midnight

Winds: Southerly 25 to 30 knots decreasing to 20 to 25 knots during the afternoon then decreasing to 15 to 20 knots later in the evening. Seas: 2 metres increasing to 3 metres during the morning. Swell: Easterly 1 metre. Isolated thunderstorms this morning, mainly offshore.

Forecast for Saturday

Winds: South to southeasterly 10 to 15 knots tending east to southeasterly up to 10 knots during the afternoon then tending northeasterly later in the evening. Seas: Up to 1.5 metres. Swell: Southeasterly about 1.5 metres.

Forecast for Sunday

Winds: Easterly and light tending east to northeasterly up to 15 knots during the afternoon. Seas: Below 1 metre. Swell: Southeasterly about 1 metre.

Hello Friends,

Quick little arvo update. Found myself around at Curly after a meeting and whadya know… good thing I chucked the board in the car. Nothing spectacular really, but there were a few little soft things coming in. I had the water camera along so I grabbed a snap to share. Sets were around the chest high range and it was reasonably consistent. A light onshore was adding a little touch of extra special ordinaryness to proceedings, but really it wasn’t a big deal. Water is cool, clear and at Curly anyway, bluey free for now. Saw a few familiar faces in the water too, which is always a good thing don’tcha think?

Swell’s still the same as this morning, ie SE, 1 metre at 8/9s.

Earlier I wrote:
Nice to see the odd sunny break this morning. And the wind swell looks as though it might have pushed up a touch. According to the latest data from the Sydney MHL buoy, the average size is still around the metre mark, but the direction has moved more to the SE and the period has crept up to 8 seconds. It’s not much, but I’m guessing if you had a mal and some time this morning, you might be able to find something slightly amusing at places with maximum exposure to the energy. The wind forecast is favourable as well, calling as it does for Sydney to have light northerlies this morning ahead of an afternoon swing to the NE.

Friday is shaping up to be showery and southerly from early. The models are calling for the wind swell to push up into the two metre plus range toward midday but it’ll be accompanied by 20-25 kts of southerly. So, maybe there will be a little something getting into the protected south corners – particularly around lunch time.

Your correspondent will be getting into full conference mode as Surfrider’s We Love Waves kicks off on Friday evening when we’re having a welcome drinks evening for pre-registrants. Saturday’s program is going to set a cracking pace with heaps of speakers covering a wide range of topics. And then Saturday evening’s 30th birthday of the Thruster should be a heap of fun (my hunch is that we’ll be shutting the doors pretty early on that one – which won’t be a problem for registered delegates because they automatically get in).

Have yourself a good one!

Tides: H @0540 L @1200

Weather Situation from the BoM

A weak low pressure trough over eastern New South Wales will move northeast during Thursday as a cold front crosses the southern Tasman Sea. A high pressure system will approach from the west on Friday extending a ridge to the north coast and another trough will develop over the northeastern inland. The high pressure ridge is expected to strengthen along NSW coast over the weekend.

Forecast for Thursday until midnight

Winds: Northerly and light tending north to northeasterly up to 10 knots around midday then increasing to 10 to 15 knots during the afternoon. Seas: Below 1 metre. Swell: Easterly 1 metre.

Forecast for Friday

Winds: Northwesterly 5 to 10 knots tending southerly up to 30 knots around dawn then becoming 20 to 25 knots during the afternoon. Seas: Below 1 metre increasing to 1.5 to 2 metres during the morning then increasing to 3 metres around midday. Swell: Easterly 1 metre.

Forecast for Saturday

Winds: Southerly 15 to 20 knots tending south to southeasterly 10 to 15 knots during the morning then tending east to southeasterly up to 10 knots during the evening. Seas: 1.5 to 2 metres decreasing to below 1 metre during the morning. Swell: Easterly 1 metre.