Shipwreck Beach - surf spot statistics

Best Surf Season (December - February)

The heart of winter delivers the most consistent and powerful surf of the year. Average swell heights peak at 2.4m with long-period energy (12s+), fueled by the North Pacific storm track. The dominant NNW and NNE swells wrap effectively around the island, producing clean, hollow lines. Offshore winds from the north blow 22-26% of the time, creating prime conditions. While direct south swell is scarce, the sheer size and period of these northern pulses make for heavy, fast walls that are the highlight of the year.

Fair Surf Season (March, April, October, November)

The transitional months offer a mix of leftover winter power and early-season groundswell. March and April still see average heights around 2.1-2.3m, with periods in the 10-11s range, but the frequency of ideal offshore winds drops to 18-21%. October and November mark the return of consistent swell as autumn lows intensify, with heights climbing from 1.9m to 2.3m. The trade-wind influence is slightly less aggressive than summer, offering more windows of clean surf. Swell directions remain predominantly from the northern half of the compass.

Low Surf Season (May - September)

Summer brings the doldrums. Average swell heights fall to 1.7-1.8m and periods drop below 10s, resulting in weak, wind-affected surf. The persistent ENE trade winds blow over 50% of the time, generating choppy, cross-shore conditions. Ideal offshore wind days shrink to 11-20%, making clean waves a rarity. The swell that does arrive is mainly short-period easterly windswell, which lacks the power and organization to produce quality waves at this south-facing beach. This is the time for other activities or a crowd-free session if you can find a rare clean window.

February: Consistency in the Cold

Winter maintains its grip, with average swell height holding at 2.3m and period at 12.0s. The swell window remains dominated by NNW (19.4%) and NNE (9.7%), along with a slight uptick in NE (11.3%) and ENE (9.9%). Waves are powerful and consistent, though the direction still favors northern quadrants wrapping in. Offshore wind odds are 25%, slightly lower than January, but still decent. The trade wind machine is strong – ENE blows 31.1% of the time – so patience is key. Frontal passages bring shifting winds: a departing low can flip the wind to the north, suddenly turning on fantastic offshore conditions. When that happens, the waves are firing – 1.5-2.5m faces with that long-period push. February is a reliable month for a solid, quality session if you're willing to wait out the trades.