Overview
Ethel Wreck is a slabby reef break that sits right in front of a beached shipwreck. In clean, smaller swells it can throw intense barrels, and the real draw is a sucky left. The rights are shorter and less coveted, though there are more of them on the opposite side. When it all comes together it's a genuine crowd magnet, but it's often too rippy and disorganised, with ugly clean-up sets pushing through.
When It Works
The wave breaks over an uneven reef and offers both lefts and rights. It draws swell from south through southwest, with southwest (SW) the best match, and works from 0.6 m / 2 ft to 2.4 m / 8 ft. The cleaner, smaller end of that range is when the barrels really show. It can be somewhat inconsistent, so it takes the right window to line up.
Wind and Tide
Look for a northeast (NE) offshore wind. It works on low and mid tide, with a rising tide generally the better call.
Local Tips
This is an expert-level wave, and the lineup gets busy when it's on.
Access
New stairs have replaced the old, dangerous cliff scramble down to the break. There's camping nearby and a car park with free parking.
