Shipwrecks • Surf Spot Statistics

Best Surf Season (April - June)

Shipwrecks is a southeast-facing spot that thrives on long-period southern-hemisphere groundswell. The April through June window stacks the odds in your favor: average heights build from 1.0 to 1.1m (3 to 4ft), average periods sit at 13.7 to 14.1s, and offshore W/WNW/NW/NNW wind keeps the surface clean 63 to 66 percent of the time. SSW groundswell is the main engine, and when the direction locks into the W/SW/SSW window, the break turns on with rippable, bowly walls.

Fair Surf Season (July - October)

Summer and early fall deliver the biggest swells of the year as the eastern Pacific tropical cyclone machine fires up. Average heights reach 1.1 to 1.2m (3.5 to 4ft), with occasional 1.5 to 2m (5 to 6.5ft) sets. However, ideal wind percentages slip to 55 to 61 percent, and stronger SW/SSW winds plus heavy rainfall - especially in August and September - often add unwanted chop. This is the season for picking your windows and chasing early-morning offshore conditions; the reward is the largest and most powerful surf of the year.

Low Surf Season (November - March)

From late fall through winter, the size dials back to a modest 2 to 3ft (0.6 to 1m) average. Periods remain in the 11.9 to 13.5s range, so the waves hold their shape, and offshore W/WNW/NW/NNW flow is actually at its most reliable, with ideal wind percentages around 64 percent. This is a low season in height, not quality. On the right day you can score clean, lined-up shoulder-high rollers with plenty of space in the lineup.