When the surfers arrive, they’ll come face-to-face with one of the most fearsome arenas in the world of surfing. Sets the size of small buildings stack up on the horizon and as they trip over the notorious Shipstern steps they create one of the most technically challenging rides in surfing. But there’s more here than meets the eye.
Tap a hotspot to explore
real talk
real talk
getting there
getting there
Weather Window
Weather Window
What makes surfing at Shipstern so tricky is a combination of the geometry of the reef itself and the force with which the Southern Ocean pushes itself over it.
Shippies is a wave like no other. From the infamous step to the cliffs where it breaks and the cold water and rogue wildlife, there’s no shortage of violent variables at the Southern Hemisphere’s most infamous slab. But what makes this thing tick?
What makes Shipstern particularly tricky is the geometry of the reef itself. It’s a super shallow, stair-step slab, which rises suddenly, shelf upon shelf, straight out of the depths. The ground swells gallop forwards at roughly 70 kilometres per hour, and when they slam into the reef they get jacked up, over 30-feet high, and fold over in thick, grinding barrels.
The jagged dolerite also causes mutations on the surface of the wave; these are Shippies’ famous ‘steps’. Imagine waves within waves, sudden random jackknife humps, which cause the water to drop out from underneath your feet. Now imagine freefalling with 300,000kg of ocean surging just over your shoulder. It’s probably the wildest, most unpredictable eight-second ride in Australian surfing.
Tap a hotspot to explore
best footage
best footage
the numbers
the numbers
the science
the science
Shipstern Bluff is a wave like no other. From the cold water and rogue wildlife to the infamous step and the cliffs where it breaks, there’s no shortage of vicious variables at the Southern Hemisphere’s most notorious slab. But what lurks beneath? Plenty, as it happens.
Tap a hotspot to explore
watch the rocks
watch the rocks
other 'locals'
other 'locals'
wildest wipeouts
wildest wipeouts
Welcome to
Red Bull Cape Fear's
Choose a section to explore
Written By: Will Douglas
On the south-east corner of an island at the end of the world, there’s a mutant wave that’s reached mythical status in surfing folklore. A place where surf history has been made, legends forged, and bodies broken.
In 2021, Shipstern Bluff is once again playing host to Red Bull Cape Fear: a one-of-a-kind, invitation-only surf event.
But what, exactly, is going on below, above and inside this famously brutal barrel?
On the south-east corner of an island at the end of the world, there’s a mutant wave that’s reached mythical status in surfing folklore. It’s a place where surf history has been made, legends forged and bodies broken.
In 2021, Shipstern Bluff is once again playing host to Red Bull Cape Fear: a one-of-a-kind, invitation-only surf event.
But what, exactly, is going on below, above and inside this famously brutal barrel?
On the south-east corner of an island at the end of the world, there’s a mutant wave that’s reached mythical status in surfing folklore. It’s a place where surf history has been made, legends forged and bodies broken.
In 2021, Shipstern Bluff is once again playing host to Red Bull Cape Fear: a one-of-a-kind, invitation-only surf event.
But what, exactly, is going on below, above and inside this famously brutal barrel?
Only running when the biggest swell of the year comes in
Waiting period March - August 2021
Only running when the biggest swell of the year comes in
Waiting period March - August 2021
Shipstern Bluff is a rough and windswept spit of land, miles from civilisation, somewhere between nothing and nowhere.
To get there, you need to fly to Hobart, head south to Port Arthur for 90 minutes, follow the signs to Cape Raoul National Park, then hike for up to two hours to reach the coast. That, or it’s a 30km boat ride in. Pick your poison. But if you’re hiking, don’t forget to save some energy for the hike out.
Seems like a lot of effort for a single wave, right? That’s just the way surfers like it.
getting there
Close
Close
While the event window officially opens on March 15, 2021, Red Bull Cape Fear can be called ‘ON’ at any time, with the surfers dropping everything and having just 48 hours to make their way to Shipstern Bluff to compete. Red Bull Cape Fear will await the optimal swell in 2021, ensuring the best conditions for competitors and fans alike. In preparation for the competition, swell conditions will be monitored from March 1 by a dedicated Surfline team.
weather Window
Close
Close
“One wave at Shippies counts for like 10 surf sessions somewhere else. It’s a different feeling completely. It brings you to life. Makes you feel like you’re on top of the world.”
Lizzie Stokely
“When I left the World Tour (WSL) to venture into big wave surfing my eyes were opened to
what it takes physically and mentally to surf the heaviest waves around – Shipstern Bluff
truly embodies that challenge. Until you get there and see it in real life, you can’t really try
and understand how it works.”
Laura Enever
“Shipstern Bluff is known for taking no prisoners. The 2019 event was epic and this year will be unique again with such strong female competitors involved – and, of course, an all-Aussie lineup to showcase local talent.”
Mark MAthews
“These waves are definitely out of my comfort zone… but an epic challenge post-retirement!”
Mick Fanning
Close
Close
inside the wave when it's at its largest
you could fit a whole
bus
surfers hit speeds of up to
kph
50
(equivalent of a four-storey building)
water reaching
ft
30
Water temp
hovers around
o
C
12
The 'Roaring Forties' winds can be hit
The 'Roaring Forties'
winds can hit
KNOTS
24
BREAKING 10 METRES FROM ROCKS
m
10
The water weight equals that of
trucks
15
there are
swimming pools
worth of water
in each wave
27
Close
Close
Shippies spits up a super shallow, stair-step slab which rises suddenly, shelf upon shelf, straight out of the depths. The ground swells gallop forwards at roughly 70kph and when they slam into the reef they get jacked up, over 30ft high, folding over in thick, grinding barrels.
The jagged dolerite also causes mutations on the surface of the wave; these are Shippies famous ‘steps’. Imagine waves within waves, sudden random jackknife humps which cause the water to drop out from underneath your feet. Now imagine freefalling with 300,000kg of ocean surging just over your shoulder. It’s the wildest, most unpredictable eight-second ride in Australian surfing.
the Science
Close
Close
In spite of brutal odds, surfers from all over the world have managed to find their lines and have their way with Shipstern Bluff over the years. No guts, no glory, right? Except we’re pretty sure these don’t care much for glory...
best footage
Close
Close
Like The Boneyard at Mavericks, the rocks at Shipstern Bluff are almost scarier than the wave itself. This is arguably the heaviest wave in the Southern Ocean and the margin for error is razor-thin. Wipe out early, before the real barrel starts, and you’ll be pushed down onto the shallow reef, with 15 semi-trailers worth of water overhead.
Watch the rocks
Close
Close
As if the wave itself wasn’t enough, Shipstern is home to the type of marine life that makes surfers keenly aware of their own silhouette. The nearby fur seal colony at Cape Raoul tends to attract great whites, while killer whales have even been spotted lurking just behind the break. And then there’s Sammy, a local (harmless) seal who frequents the lineup and gets in on the action whenever he can.
OTHER ‘LOCALS’
Close
Close
WILDEST WIPEOUTS
Shipstern Bluff has certainly seen its share of carnage over the years. But don’t just take our word for it...
Close
Close
Back to the top
Back to the top
On the south-east corner of an island at the end of the world, there’s a mutant wave that’s reached mythical status in surfing folklore. A place where surf history has been made, legends forged, and bodies broken.
In 2021, Shipstern Bluff is once again playing host to Red Bull Cape Fear: a one-of-a-kind, invitation-only surf event.
But what, exactly, is going on below, above and inside this famously brutal barrel?
Welcome to
Red Bull Cape Fear's
On the south-east corner of an island at the end of the world, there’s a mutant wave that’s reached mythical status in surfing folklore. It’s a place where surf history has been made, legends forged and bodies broken.
In 2021, Shipstern Bluff is once again playing host to Red Bull Cape Fear: a one-of-a-kind,
invitation-only surf event.
But what, exactly, is going on below, above and inside this famously brutal barrel?
On the south-east corner of an island at the end of the world, there’s a mutant wave that’s reached mythical status in surfing folklore. It’s a place where surf history has been made, legends forged and bodies broken.
In 2021, Shipstern Bluff is once again playing host to Red Bull Cape Fear: a one-of-a-kind,
invitation-only surf event.
But what, exactly, is going on below, above and inside this famously brutal barrel?
Only running when the biggest
swell of the year comes in
Waiting period March - August 2021
Only running when the biggest
swell of the year comes in
Waiting period March - August 2021
Choose a section to explore
When the surfers arrive, they’ll come face-to-face with one of the most fearsome arenas in the world of surfing. Sets the size of small buildings stack up on the horizon and as they trip over the notorious Shipstern steps they create one of the most technically challenging rides in surfing. But there’s more here than meets the eye.
Tap a hotspot to explore
real talk
getting there
Weather Window
What makes surfing at Shipstern so tricky is a combination of the geometry of the reef itself and the force with which the Southern Ocean pushes itself over it.
Tap a hotspot to explore
best footage
the numbers
the science
Shipstern Bluff is a wave like no other. From the cold water and rogue wildlife to the infamous step and the cliffs where it breaks, there’s no shortage of vicious variables at the Southern Hemisphere’s most notorious slab. But what lurks beneath? Plenty, as it happens.
Tap a hotspot to explore
watch the rocks
other 'locals'
wildest wipeouts
“One wave at Shippies counts for like 10 surf sessions somewhere else. It’s a different feeling completely. It brings you to life. Makes you feel like you’re on top of the world.”
Lizzie Stokely
“When I left the World Tour (WSL) to venture into big wave surfing my eyes were opened to what it takes physically and mentally to surf the heaviest waves around – Shipstern Bluff truly embodies that challenge... Until you get there and see it in real life...you can’t really try and understand how it works.”
Laura Enever
“Shipstern Bluff is known for taking no prisoners...The 2019 event was epic and this year will be unique again with such strong female competitors involved, and of course an all-Aussie lineup to showcase local talent.”
Mark MAthews
“These waves are definitely out of my comfort zone...but an epic challenge post-retirement!,”
Mick Fanning
Close
Close
While the event window officially opens on March 3, 2021, Red Bull Cape Fear can be called ‘ON’ at any time with the surfers dropping everything and having only 48 hours to make their way to Shipstern Bluff to compete. Red Bull Cape Fear will await the optimal swell in 2021, ensuring the best conditions for competitors and fans. In preparation for the competition, swell conditions will be monitored from March 1 by a dedicated Surfline team.
weather Window
Close
Close
Shipstern Bluff is a rough and windswept spit of land, miles from civilisation, somewhere between nothing and nowhere.
To get there, you need to fly to Hobart, head south to Port Arthur for 1.5 hours, follow the signs to Cape Raoul National Park, then hike for up to 2 hours to reach the coast. That, or a 30km boat ride in. Pick your poison. But if you’re hiking, don’t forget to save some energy for the hike out.
Seems like a lot of effort for a single wave, right? That’s just the way surfers like it.
getting there
Close
Close
Written By: Will Douglas
Back to the top
“One wave at Shippies counts for like 10 surf sessions somewhere else. It’s a different feeling completely. It brings you to life. Makes you feel like you’re on top of the world.”
Lizzie Stokely
“When I left the World Tour (WSL) to venture into big wave surfing my eyes were opened to
what it takes physically and mentally to surf the heaviest waves around – Shipstern Bluff
truly embodies that challenge. Until you get there and see it in real life, you can’t really try
and understand how it works.”
Laura Enever
“Shipstern Bluff is known for taking no prisoners. The 2019 event was epic and this year will be unique again with such strong female competitors involved – and, of course, an all-Aussie lineup to showcase local talent.”
Mark MAthews
“These waves are definitely out of my comfort zone… but an epic challenge post-retirement!”
Mick Fanning
Close
Close
While the event window officially opens on March 15, 2021, Red Bull Cape Fear can be called ‘ON’ at any time, with the surfers dropping everything and having just 48 hours to make their way to Shipstern Bluff to compete. Red Bull Cape Fear will await the optimal swell in 2021, ensuring the best conditions for competitors and fans alike. In preparation for the competition, swell conditions will be monitored from March 1 by a dedicated Surfline team.
weather Window
Close
Close
Shipstern Bluff is a rough and windswept spit of land, miles from civilisation, somewhere between nothing and nowhere.
To get there, you need to fly to Hobart, head south to Port Arthur for 90 minutes, follow the signs to Cape Raoul National Park, then hike for up to two hours to reach the coast. That, or it’s a 30km boat ride in. Pick your poison. But if you’re hiking, don’t forget to save some energy for the hike out.
Seems like a lot of effort for a single wave, right? That’s just the way surfers like it.
getting there
Close
Close
inside the wave when it's at its largest
you could fit a whole
bus
surfers hit speeds of up to
kph
50
(equivalent of a four-storey building)
water reaching
ft
30
Water temp hovers around
Water temp hovers around 12°c
Water temp
hovers around
o
C
12
The 'Roaring Forties' winds can be hit
The 'Roaring Forties'
winds can hit
KNOTS
24
BREAKING 10 METRES FROM ROCKS
m
10
The water weight equals that of
trucks
15
there are
swimming pools
worth of water
in each wave
27
Close
Close
In spite of brutal odds, surfers from all over the world have managed to find their lines and have their way with Shipstern Bluff over the years. No guts, no glory, right? Except we’re pretty sure these don’t care much for glory...
best footage
Close
Close
Shippies spits up a super shallow, stair-step slab which rises suddenly, shelf upon shelf, straight out of the depths. The ground swells gallop forwards at roughly 70kph and when they slam into the reef they get jacked up, over 30ft high, folding over in thick, grinding barrels.
The jagged dolerite also causes mutations on the surface of the wave; these are Shippies
famous ‘steps’. Imagine waves within waves, sudden random jackknife humps which cause
the water to drop out from underneath your feet. Now imagine freefalling with 300,000kg of ocean surging just over your shoulder. It’s the wildest, most unpredictable eight-second ride in Australian surfing.
the Science
Close
Close
WILDEST WIPEOUTS
Shipstern Bluff has certainly seen its share of carnage over the years. But don’t just take our word for it...
Close
Close
As if the wave itself wasn’t enough, Shipstern is home to the type of marine life that makes surfers keenly aware of their own silhouette. The nearby fur seal colony at Cape Raoul tends to attract great whites, while killer whales have even been spotted lurking just behind the break. And then there’s Sammy, a local (harmless) seal who frequents the lineup and gets in on the action whenever he can.
OTHER ‘LOCALS’
Close
Close
Like The Boneyard at Mavericks, the rocks at Shipstern Bluff are almost scarier than the wave itself. This is arguably the heaviest wave in the Southern Ocean and the margin for error is razor-thin. Wipe out early, before the real barrel starts, and you’ll be pushed down onto the shallow reef, with 15 semi-trailers worth of water overhead.
Watch the rocks
Close
Close
Tap to mute sound
Tap to play with sound