Shipwrecks - surf spot statistics

Best Surf Season (April - May)

Springtime at Shipwrecks offers the magic combination of solid, long-period groundswell and a high frequency of offshore winds. As the Pacific storm track shifts northward, the Southern Hemisphere kicks into high gear, sending consistent SSW and SW energy toward this SE-facing beach. Average wave heights climb to the 1.0-1.1m range with periods pushing 14 seconds, delivering powerful, rippable waves. Meanwhile, the trade winds weaken and high-pressure systems settle in, boosting offshore wind reliability to around 66%. This is prime time to score clean, lined-up surf at Shipwrecks.

Fair Surf Season (October - March)

Autumn and winter bring a different rhythm. The North Pacific becomes increasingly active, spinning up extratropical storms that send long-period swell toward the coast, though wave heights average a more modest 0.8-0.9m. Periods remain solid in the 12-13 second range, maintaining decent punch. Offshore winds are still reliable, clocking in around 60-64% of the time, with frequent NW to NNW breezes grooming the waves. The trade-off is size – you'll find fun, surfable waves more often than not, but the real groundswell peaks happen in spring.

Low Surf Season (June - September)

Summer is the crossroads of large swell and compromised wind. The Southern Hemisphere keeps producing, and average swell heights peak at 1.2m with periods around 13 seconds, often hitting the 1.5-2m range during pulses. However, the percentage of ideal offshore winds drops to 55-63% as the region falls under the influence of weaker pressure gradients and more frequent onshore flows from the SW and WSW quadrants. When the wind is right – a rare perfect alignment – you can score pumping walls, but more often you'll be dealing with bumpy, wind-affected conditions. For the patient surfer, there are still gems to be found.

May: Sustained Quality – Solid Swell and Light Offshore Flow

May continues the spring bounty with an average swell height of 1.1m and a period holding strong at 14.1s. Swell direction remains heavily SSW-biased at 72%, with the remainder from S. The increased S component can introduce a bit of wrap, but the overall quality remains high. Offshore wind frequency remains at 66%, with the wind regime shifting to lighter breezes from the NW and even WNW. The region experiences fewer cold fronts, so the wind is often glassy in the mornings before a gentle sea breeze develops. This is a month for all-day surf, with waves in the chest-to-head-high range that are both powerful and user-friendly.