2019 East Coast Australia Surf Report to date.

South of Sydney on Tuesday morning May 7. -Photo Clarrie Bouma.

The first real swell of the year hit Sydney and surrounds on Tuesday May 7 and flashbacks to Cyclone Oma remind everyone their could, and indeed should be better days ahead?
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Words by Ben Horvath.
Photos by Cruz Horvath, Clarrie Bouma and Brad Whittaker.
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Shark Island  gentleman’s hour Tues May 7. Photo Cruz Horvath.
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Late 2018 and the first 4 months of 2019 on the East Coast of Australia has been a testing time for surfers. Cyclone Oma broke the drought for Qld and northern NSW surfers for a week or so back in late February, after a particularly lean 6 months up north.
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Noosa, specifically Boiling Pot through Nationals down to the end of Little Cove was as good as it gets back on Thursday February 21 according to the best surf history Qld surf reporter and journalist Johnny Charlton, but there hasn’t been too much else to get excited about either before or after really. JC said, “The months prior to Cyclone Oma were particularly poor, the sand was in place, but we were dogged by northerlies and consequently just didn’t get any south swells or trade swells over the spring/summer months, and of course post Oma the banks have been terrible until just showing signs of repair recently.” 
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Whilst in Sydney and surrounds there have been plenty of small waves to keep most crew active, there has a distinct lack of quality swells, if any since last spring to be honest. In summation, yes there’s been reasonably consistent 1-3ft days, but you could count the number of 4ft or over days in the last 6 months on one hand.
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Nice late drop at Cronulla Point on Tuesday morning May 7. – Photo Cruz Horvath.
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Tuesday May 7 definitely broke the drought, albeit briefly. 
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Before we all get carried away, it was just a taste really, a nice taste for sure, but by Wednesday May 8 wave size was back down to 3ft max.
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Tube time at Voodoo. – Photo Brad Whittaker.
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Tuesday morning dawned sunny and offshore with clean 5-6ft SSE groundswell lines in the 11 to 12 second range, by mid morning there were even a few 6-8ft bombs in the mix at south facing magnets like Voodoo and Merewether. The bathymetry off Cape Solander also ensured some sets were in the 6-8ft range at times (though the NW wind was blowing up the face at times.)
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Late drop at Voodoo captured by Brad Whittaker.
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The Perfect Wave staff skipped the Brookvale HQ for a few hours on Tuesday morning to enjoy the barrells on offer at nearby Dee Why Point. News back from the Point was that TPW ambassador Toby Martin was the clear standout. (See clip below.)
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No one out at fun looking Kiddies? Photo Cruz Horvath.
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Whilst down south TPW’s Cronulla sub office was also temporarily vacated as I snuck out and sampled a few fun ones out at Cronulla Point early and Shark Island as the tide came in.
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In summation, May 7 was a memorable day of surfing in Sydney, the south coast and right up through northern NSW. Let’s hope it is a taste of things to come?
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Tuesday May 7. Photo by www.sandonpoinphotos.com
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By Wednesday May 8, the swell had backed right off. – Photo Clarrie Bouma. 

Written by:
Ben Horvath

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