Photos: Backing Up On The Surf Coast

stunet's picture
By Stu Nettle (stunet)

Photos: Backing Up On The Surf Coast

Stu Nettle picture
Stu Nettle (stunet)
Swellnet Dispatch

Though scientists bid farewell to La Niña back in early March, the swell cycles didn't respond immediately. They never do, weather doesn't work that way. Rather than a switch being flicked from one state to another, there's a long slow transition period where the atmosphere, and in this case the ocean too, slowly alters its makeup. When enough parameters have been surpassed, scientists will deem that the new 'state'.

The exit out of La Niña couldn't come soon enough for Victorian surfers who've endured three years of a largely sedentary ocean. Since then, lone swells have done enough to move some sand around, blow away any cobwebs, and given cause for surfers to strike up a conversation with a shaper, however it took a while for the swells to properly stack up like they should through autumn into winter.

The beginning of May was as good a marker as any for when multiple swells began to feature in forecast outlooks. The southerly energy is rising and it's becoming persistent. Better yet, there's been a fair whack of offshore days during the swells.

On the weekend, one of the stronger storms of the season did its heavy lifting west of Tasmania, producing a mix of large swells which peaked on Monday with strong 6-8ft waves on the Surf Coast, bigger east of Melbourne and west of Otway. Offshore winds then kept grooming conditions till Tuesday presented long-range, ruler-edge waves around 4-5ft on the Surf Coast - again, bigger elsewhere.

Photographer Steve Arklay, shot Bells and Winki as said lines cornered their way around the reefs. The stretched, long-period lines contrasting against the content coming from the NSW/QLD border region with its jumpy, insistent energy.

Better yet, with La Niña retreating ever further into the rearview mirror, the run isn't done. Another very significant storm is due to develop over the coming days, generating an oversized swell for later in the weekend.

More on this in the Forecaster Notes.

All photos by Steve Arklay.

 

Comments

Bungan33's picture
Bungan33's picture
Bungan33 Thursday, 25 May 2023 at 4:10pm

At long bloody last we can show our chilly but smug smiles to our northern and eastern brethren!!!

Nick Bone's picture
Nick Bone's picture
Nick Bone Thursday, 25 May 2023 at 6:37pm

They will be packing the planes as we speak to get down here. You can still get away a 3/2 but I doubt they know what one is.

Finnbob the terror's picture
Finnbob the terror's picture
Finnbob the terror Thursday, 25 May 2023 at 7:15pm

If your managing a 3/2 bone you must have a pretty good layer of beer blubber.

Nick Bone's picture
Nick Bone's picture
Nick Bone Thursday, 25 May 2023 at 8:01pm

Beer blubber and in the bloodstream. Just enough to take the edge off.

Garryh's picture
Garryh's picture
Garryh Friday, 26 May 2023 at 6:52pm

Don't bother with Victoria, there have been several big white sightings from Lorne to 13th beach in recent years, the water is already 14 degrees (and feels colder) there's a sewerage outlet a couple of beaches north of Torquay that should be avoided, the tidal movement is significant and tricky to understand and the locals might just let your tyres down if you have NSW or Qld number plates or an obvious hire car. Sorry to share this terrible news

Surfalot67's picture
Surfalot67's picture
Surfalot67 Friday, 26 May 2023 at 7:24pm

Lol, I grew up in Torquay from 67 to the early 80’s. There’s a great local crew of chargers but more often than not now it’s fat mal riding kooks at Possos who’ve been there a year thinking they rule. None of your comment rings true

Garryh's picture
Garryh's picture
Garryh Saturday, 27 May 2023 at 12:09pm

In regards to that spot I'd add...this used to be a lonely spot to surf especially mid week but now whenever there's a swell on the car park is completely and totally full half way back down the dirt access road. It's a great spot if you like to share every one of your precious your waves with several other entitled longboarders.

Surfalot67's picture
Surfalot67's picture
Surfalot67 Saturday, 27 May 2023 at 12:28pm

Yes mate. I remember the old road straight from the Fishos caravan park past the tip. Now it’s an AV Jennings wonderland full of Melbourne accountants

Stok's picture
Stok's picture
Stok Saturday, 27 May 2023 at 8:20pm

Lets face it, the new estates at Torquay are practically meters away.

Now the new residents who've moved there in the last few years are becoming more competent in waves....hence they head to possos.

toncie's picture
toncie's picture
toncie Sunday, 28 May 2023 at 9:37pm

Yeah, used to surf there in the 1500s with the local crew but the Macassans would show up every time there was a decent swell and shoulder hop every wave on thier trader sailers. Bloody pencil neck business types stinkin-up the place.

Mcface's picture
Mcface's picture
Mcface Monday, 29 May 2023 at 8:05am

Haha this is gold

t-diddy's picture
t-diddy's picture
t-diddy Tuesday, 30 May 2023 at 11:06pm

yea agree good shit haha

Viko's picture
Viko's picture
Viko Thursday, 25 May 2023 at 4:40pm

The last few years of trash swells have been the icing on the shit filled cake that was covid. Man we copped it bad here in vic. I hope everyones feeling fit, cause this weekend will test your skills.

JB1's picture
JB1's picture
JB1 Thursday, 25 May 2023 at 6:02pm

With you on that... Caged animals during lockdown, and then, when released, no waves for months on end.

Good week tho... finally!

Island Bay's picture
Island Bay's picture
Island Bay Thursday, 25 May 2023 at 5:34pm

Geez, it looks good. And somewhat familiar.

freeride76's picture
freeride76's picture
freeride76 Thursday, 25 May 2023 at 7:42pm

might have to jump a plane and FIFO.

.....

kidding.

pigdog's picture
pigdog's picture
pigdog Thursday, 25 May 2023 at 9:36pm

you should freeride....have a surfcoast session the whole coast will be lit up. then hit the tub before or after and experience all that vicco has to offer. even just driving down great ocean road when swell is comming in looks and feels like heaven.:)

basesix's picture
basesix's picture
basesix Friday, 26 May 2023 at 6:31am

...and with hatted-restaurants, charming cafes and five-star wineries set among temperate forests, the Great Ocean Road is a foodie’s dream. Head off from Melbourne's Bellarine region, and drive to the Otways via the Surf Coast, taking in ocean views along this world-renowned coastline for the ultimate couples’ getaway.
#bonsoyboi

stunet's picture
stunet's picture
stunet Friday, 26 May 2023 at 6:56am

Steve's Hummer won't make it around the Devil's Elbow.

belly's picture
belly's picture
belly Friday, 26 May 2023 at 7:06am

No, like Nate he'll be in a MG SUV hire car, the type of vehicle required to get you down all those crazy surf coast access tracks.

Seaweed's picture
Seaweed's picture
Seaweed Friday, 26 May 2023 at 9:47am

You’d be welcome

Solitude's picture
Solitude's picture
Solitude Thursday, 25 May 2023 at 9:31pm

How’s the crowds been? Those photos make it look mellow

dnahkcaB's picture
dnahkcaB's picture
dnahkcaB Friday, 26 May 2023 at 7:14am

Everyone is spread out along the golden mile, from Bells to Juc. All reefs handle different tides. Winds stay offy all day. No photographs to crowd line ups (aka snapper). Most guys are chilled, both literally and figuratively speaking.

Solitude's picture
Solitude's picture
Solitude Friday, 26 May 2023 at 9:03am

Can’t tell if you’re being sarcastic but I don’t think you are. Sounds like heaven. Have surfed the stretch several times over the years and found it to be pretty hectic human wise at the main spots at least

Bungan33's picture
Bungan33's picture
Bungan33 Friday, 26 May 2023 at 8:10am

Growing up in Sydney and then living down here for many years - the vibe in the water still blows me away to be honest. Every crowd has its outliers - but even at packed weekend Bells, strangers chat, there's laughs, Ive called guys into waves in front of me (mind you - yelling "go go go" is often mistaken for telling them to get off!), drop ins are usually apologised for.
Its not fairyland but pretty damn good if you surf respectfully.

Solitude's picture
Solitude's picture
Solitude Friday, 26 May 2023 at 9:03am

Good to hear

vicbloke's picture
vicbloke's picture
vicbloke Friday, 26 May 2023 at 10:06am

agree. surf cooly in Feb and that will be my last time

Lukas_Z's picture
Lukas_Z's picture
Lukas_Z Saturday, 27 May 2023 at 8:03pm

Usually when its 6ft keeps most average joes out (and a hell of a paddle at winki if you don't jump off the button)

Surfalot67's picture
Surfalot67's picture
Surfalot67 Friday, 26 May 2023 at 7:29am

Enjoy Vicco crew! So many options when it's on away from the two obvious choices above

Beggsie's picture
Beggsie's picture
Beggsie Friday, 26 May 2023 at 7:50am

Just don’t surf near me and you’ll be ok

haggis's picture
haggis's picture
haggis Saturday, 27 May 2023 at 7:12am

Ok Begbie

haggis's picture
haggis's picture
haggis Saturday, 27 May 2023 at 7:12am

Ok Begbie

getbarrelled99's picture
getbarrelled99's picture
getbarrelled99 Monday, 5 Jun 2023 at 4:49pm

bahhahahahahahhahahaha yeah beggsy - i've still got your gummies at my house too ;-)

Rusty Roof's picture
Rusty Roof's picture
Rusty Roof Friday, 26 May 2023 at 8:05am

Monday was the best "3ft" surf I've had for a long time.
That was the forecast.

Craig's picture
Craig's picture
Craig Friday, 26 May 2023 at 8:07am

Monday wasn't forecast to be 3ft, by the models or the notes. Models had 6ft and I had 6-8ft.

Bungan33's picture
Bungan33's picture
Bungan33 Friday, 26 May 2023 at 8:13am

The forecast always cracks me up. You soon learn that the "3-4" foot is usually double overhead. When the report comes in at "6+" - then you reach for a bigger board!
When I go back to Sydney and they say "3-4 foot" I am always bummed when you turn up and its head high.

goofyfoot's picture
goofyfoot's picture
goofyfoot Friday, 26 May 2023 at 8:30am

Huh Rusty?

memlasurf's picture
memlasurf's picture
memlasurf Friday, 26 May 2023 at 8:14am

Heard lots of health enthusiasts installing ice baths in Byron Bay we have the real deal down here.

basesix's picture
basesix's picture
basesix Friday, 26 May 2023 at 8:41am

Haha, yep. But surfers here still have yoga girlfriends, so there's plenny of ice baths (and deep breathing, sound baths and farkn' sacred cocoa ceremonies) - don't pretend we're THAT different.. the ice baths are just funnier down here : )

Danno's picture
Danno's picture
Danno Friday, 26 May 2023 at 11:43am

We need to be realistic here, especially for our northern friends. The surf may have been pumping but it is still bloody crowded on the main breaks. Everything is pretty orderly: none of that Queensland super bank shit: but I wouldn't fly down expecting no crowd perfection!

cutty1957's picture
cutty1957's picture
cutty1957 Friday, 26 May 2023 at 11:57am

Yep your right. They have the Bells Bowl and Rincon blocked off for the indigenous Surf Champs this weekend(starting today). Oh...dear

geek's picture
geek's picture
geek Friday, 26 May 2023 at 4:57pm

And Peninsula Boardriders are taking over Suicides Pt Leo Sunday. Going to be a circus both sides (well...its always a circus in WP)

hackonayak's picture
hackonayak's picture
hackonayak Saturday, 27 May 2023 at 9:33am

Surfed Western Port yesterday and it was kinda horrible...winds were good but the 11 sec swell period had waves really close together almost leapfrogging each other on some sets....Hoping for better things this weekend!

Bolly's picture
Bolly's picture
Bolly Friday, 26 May 2023 at 1:55pm

I want to say it's the first time in a while there are no negative opinions.
After a last weekend Distinguished Gentleman's ride and everybody acting accordingly
Its so refreshing
Love that coastline, used to call it home

Weatherman's picture
Weatherman's picture
Weatherman Friday, 26 May 2023 at 3:56pm

Agree with some of the comments above that it doesn't look too crowded. There always seems to be a pack out at Winki, even on some average days when looking on the cams. It always seems hard to get waves on the good days I find. At least there are plenty of B and C grade waves (compared with Bells and Winki) all along the SC when conditions line up like they have been recently. I reckon there'll be a lot of people around this weekend with the forecast, as you would expect.

cutty1957's picture
cutty1957's picture
cutty1957 Saturday, 27 May 2023 at 9:28am

Still looks like there is far too much west in this swell. Winki looks busy as you would expect on a Saturday morning (and with the Bells Bowl closed for competition). Hopefully, the
the swell angle will move more SW and with an increase in size we will see some excellent conditions.

hackonayak's picture
hackonayak's picture
hackonayak Saturday, 27 May 2023 at 9:29am

Sat 27 th May AM....West Coast Vic is stacked to the horizon with a building swell and Westerly winds...Yew!!!