Used the excuse of needing to test the new Olympus TG-810 tough waterproof camera to jump in at Dee Why point this morning before the clouds came over. When I pulled up there were some nice solid looking lines coming in. I thought I might be a bit under-gunned by the end of the session due to the forecast dramatic swell increase. At that stage the MHL Sydney buoy was showing more than 2 metres of 10-12 sec south swell.
But it all changed when I got in the water.
Maybe it was the SW wind, maybe it was just Huey being contrary, but whatever the explanation, the swell immediately began to back off. The sets weren’t as big and the lulls were getting longer. By the time I gave up on it an hour and half later, the crowd had dropped from a dozen to only two or three and nothing over waist high had turned up in the previous half hour. Still, I managed to jag a few waves and a few snaps while I was about it.
As I changed in the carpark, the sky began to cloud over per the BoM’s prediction.
By 1400 the ocean was a mass of white horses, the swell was a dribbly looking metre or so at Dee Why and the MHL buoy was showing 2 metres of 8-11 sec south swell. Very disappointing. I’d hoped we might get something quite a bit better than that…
That’s odd. The MHL Sydney buoy was showing a couple metres of south swell at 10 seconds apart. But sets at Dee Why were struggling to reach the chest high mark. We have a 1.5 m high tide at around 0900, so that’s obviously a factor, but I would’ve thought it’d be a bit more obvious. Surfer proposes, Huey disposes I guess.
Wind should be good for the exposed south spots this morning, but it is set to go around to the SE later on. At the same time the swell pulse showing on the buoy is due to fade. So, it’s a case of go early for the best shot.
Absent the Goat’s thoughts, my take on the outlook for tomorrow is that it’s shaping up to be a grey and south east sort of day. Swell forecast has it still being small early, but then as the day goes along, the wind should bring in some more size from the south. However, the models reckon the average period could be in the 8-9 sec range, so the protected south corners may not be all that special. Figure kinda messy, kinda weak and waist to chest high plus…
Anyway, have yourself a fabulous Friday!
TIDES: H @0900 L @1515
Weather Situation A trough of low pressure extends through northeastern New South Wales, resulting in unsettled conditions there. A cold front is expected to affect the coast on Friday. A high pressure system south of the Bight is expected to move east in the wake of the front and should be centred near Tasmania Saturday night before moving to the Tasman Sea on Sunday, and remaining there for several days.
Forecast for Friday until midnight Winds: East to northeasterly 5 to 10 knots tending east to southeasterly 10 to 15 knots during the afternoon then becoming southeasterly 15 to 20 knots by early evening. Seas: Below 1 metre increasing to 1.5 metres later in the evening. Swell: Southerly about 2 metres decreasing to 1 metre late this evening.
Forecast for Saturday Winds: South to southeasterly 15 to 20 knots. Seas: 1 to 2 metres. Swell: Southerly about 1 metre increasing to 2 metres in the afternoon and evening.
Forecast for Sunday Winds: Southeasterly 15 to 20 knots tending easterly 10 to 15 knots during the evening. Seas: 1 to 1.5 metres. Swell: Southerly about 2 metres.
Saturday morning saw a couple metres of south swell with a period of about 10 seconds lighting up beaches around Sydney. South Narrabeen was looking tasty early with offshore conditions. I ended up shooting until the wind started to hack it up at mid-morning. As always, I tried to get shots of anyone who caught a wave – and to make them look good doing it! And as usual, all pic sales go to my lens and camera upgrade fund – so I can take even better pictures in future!
At half past seven this morning, the MHL buoy was recording a couple metres of 10 sec period south swell. The settings are therefore almost exactly the same as yesterday. So if you found waves on Tuesday, you’ll know where to start looking today.
At Dee Why there were a few folks in the water for the early. But not many. As with yesterday, it looks as though you’ll need to be packing a full load of patience today as the waits are significant.
Wind was light early but the Bureau says we can expect seabreezes (ie 10-15kts) from the SE later. I guess that means we aren’t likely to have the glassy conditions of yesterday morning.
Have yourself a good one!
TIDES: L @1015, H @1615 Sydney Coastal Waters, Broken Bay to Port Hacking and 60nm seawards: Wednesday until midnight: Wind: SE 10/15 knots.Sea: about 1 metre. Swell: S/SE about 1.5 metres. Thursday: Wind: SE 5/10 knots tending NE and increasing to 10/15 knots during the day, and reaching 15/20 knots later.Sea: less than 1 metre rising 1 to 2 metres. Swell: S/SE 1.5 to 2 metres. Friday: Wind: NW/NE 5/10 knots increasing to 15/20 knots during the day.
Pocketed at the point on a beautiful morning in Sydney.
Hello Friends, If you can possibly manage it, I’d be hunting waves at your favourite south swell spots. Swell has bumped up overnight, both in size and in period. At Dee Why that means consistent waves along with sets comfortably into the head high range. Tide’s high around midday, and we’ll have light mainly offshore breezes this morning. I’ll try to get a few more pics for sharing later…
Go well!
Tides: 1140 H, 1813 L Synoptic Situation A deep low over the southwestern is moving slowly southeast. During Friday a high pressure system will develop over the western Tasman Sea. Sydney Coastal Waters, Broken Bay to Port Hacking and 60nm seawards: Thursday until midnight: Wind: W/SW 10/15 knots reaching 15/20 knots offshore in the morning. Local inshore afternoon seabreezes. Sea: 1 to 1.5 metres. Swell: S/SE about 2 metres. Friday: Wind: W 10/15 knots, tending E/NE 10/15 knots in the afternoon and N/NW 15/20 knots in the evening.Sea: 1 to 1.5 metres. Swell: SE 1.5 to 2 metres. Saturday: Wind: N/NW freshening to 15/25 knots. N/NW 10/20 knots.
Wandered down for a late morning wave at the point and the beachy at Dee Why. Some fun waves to be had with sets pushing into the head high range at the point and overhead in the beachy. There’s a heap of sand affecting the point though and so bigger sets were sectioning rather than wrapping around. Beachy had some good and intense lefts and rights for a sizable crowd. Lots of duck diving thanks to fairly frequents sets.
I had the Panasonic FT-1 along with again and grabbed a few snaps for y’all…
Did you get in amongst it yesterday? Not everywhere was surfable, but those spots that were served up some epic conditions. This morning looks smaller and less consistent, but not radically so. Sets are into the head high range at both the point and the beach. Once again the latter is more productive than the former.
The MHL Sydney buoy has gone off the air but looking at the conditions and with an eye on the other data, I think we’re looking at south swell at around the 2 metre mark and about 10 sec apart.
From the look of the models, we can expect the swell to stick around at reasonable size for as far ahead as they look (next weekend). Quality is likely to be variable though, particularly as we get out to Weds when the Bureau expects the generally SW’ly winds of the last few days to shift around to the SE.
I spent hours shooting hundreds of pics at Gardens and Dee Why yesterday (looked elsewhere too, but they were the best of what I saw). I’ll post the times and locations later when I get the last of the pics uploaded so that you can go see if I caught you stylin’.
Have yourself a top old day!
High tide was at 0740 and low will arrive at 1303.
Sydney Coastal Waters, Broken Bay to Port Hacking and 60nm seawards: Monday until midnight: Wind: W/SW 10/15 knots, tending S/SW 15/20 knots in the evening and reaching 20/25 knots offshore overnight.Sea: to 1 metre rising 1.5 to 2 metres in the evening. Swell: S 2 metres. Tuesday: Wind: SW/SE 10/15 knots, grading to 15/20 knots offshore. Sea: about 1 metre. Swell: S about 2 metres. Wednesday: Wind: SE/NE 10/15 knots.
Lully out there, but definitely a few sets around at 0715
Grabbed a few snaps on the way home from soccer. The executive summary is as follows: Manly is waist to chest high, crowded, give it a 7/10; Curly is chest to head high plus, crowded along pretty much the whole beach, 6/10; Dee Why very crowded, about shoulder to head high plus, 7/10; Longy, typical Sunday crowd, waist to head high plus, mals best, 7/10
And here are the pics…
Looping back on one of the better ones.
South Curly sort've not quite coming together late this morning.
Aiming for the lip at North Curly late this morning.
Definitely want the long one for the bombies at Longy late this morning.
Get on it if ya can this morning. And if ya can’t, this afternoon should still have some quality in semi-exposed south corners (see Bureau notes), however be warned that the peak of this little pulse seems to be this morning (if the profile from buoys down south plays out here too).
As of 0830 at goodly sized Sunday crew were tearing into Huey’s latest deep southern ocean treats. Size along the beach is head high to a touch overhead. The point is both less consistent and slightly smaller on average. Not that Dee Why is your only option on a day like this. I’d expect the beaches of Sydney to be waveland, but the spots that like their energy from the south will be firing most strongly.
This morning has an ideal mix of conditions: low tide at 0822 building to a moderate high at 1437, wind from the at 7-10 kts and swell with a power range of 10-12 seconds.
Kid soccer for me this am, so might try to grab a few snaps to add to the collection on my way home. Have a good one!
Sydney Coastal Waters, Broken Bay to Port Hacking and 60nm seawards: Sunday until midnight: Wind: W/SW 15/20 knots, tending S/SW 10/15 knots by the afternoon.Sea: 1 to 1.5 metres. Swell: S 2 to 3 metres. Monday: Wind: E/SE 10/15 knots.Sea: about 1 metre.Swell: S 2 to 3 metres. Tuesday: Wind: E/NE 15/20 knots.
At least a couple peaks visible from the crows nest at 0730
This is not a set wave, note crowd location...
Hello Friends,
Short version: still lots of waves to be had, but it is smaller on average. Skies were darkening and showers were visible off to the south of Dee Why when I climbed up into the crows nest to get a picture or two. The numbers are looking pretty good: south swell of a couple metres at 10s and light SSW winds.
Along the Dee Why stretch that means waist to chest on many of them, but a reasonable number into the head high range (if not a touch bigger). Crowds are well down over past days now that school has resumed and the workers have returned.
Maybe it’s the dark grey sky, but the 0745 temp of around 13 felt particularly chilly (surpress those smiles Viccos!). We’re set for showers along the coast and the high will gradually creep up to around the 17 mark.
Here’s the Bureau’s call.
Sydney Coastal Waters, Broken Bay to Port Hacking and 60nm seawards: Thursday until midnight: Wind: S/SE 10/15 knots, reaching 15/20 knots at times.Sea: 1 to 2 metres.Swell: S 2 to 3 metres. Waves breaking dangerously, close inshore. Isolated morning thunderstorms. Friday: Wind: NW/SW 5/10 knots. Sea: less than 1 metre. Swell: S 1.5 to 2 metres. Saturday: Wind: S/SW 10/20 knots, increasing to S 15/25 knots.
