Davenport Landing Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get straight into it for the local stretch.

We’re looking at a pretty grim run ahead, to be honest. The next few days are a write-off for any decent paddle surfing. The wind is a major problem – it’s hammering from the NW and cross-shore consistently, and that’s just trashing any chance of a clean wave. The swell is hanging in there, but it’s not doing us any favours with the wind on it.

Wednesday morning (22 July) is the first real chance, but it’s a tough one. Davenport Landing is a reef and point setup, exposed to the SW, and we’ve got a light SW breeze that’s actually onshore, not offshore. The swell is a small 3ft from the SSW with a period of 15 seconds – that’s a long period groundswell, which is usually good for points and reefs, but the wind is just killing it. The combined energy is moderate (606), but the notes say marginal surf at best. It’s a beginner spot, so the size is fine, but cross-chop will make it tricky. The water temp is about average for the time of year.

Thursday (23 July) through Saturday (26 July) is a total no-go. Every window is marked as poor surf conditions. The wind stays strong and cross-shore from the NW, 15 to 22 mph. The swell stays small, 2ft to 3ft, but the period is all over the place – from 14 seconds up to 24 seconds on Friday. That long period at a beach break setup would just make it break too straight anyway. The combined energy is moderate (381 to 986), but without clean wind, it’s just a lumpy mess. Unless you’re kiting, there’s nothing here.

Sunday (27 July) morning we see a tiny bump in swell to 3ft, still SSW, period 18 seconds. The wind is still NW 15 mph cross-shore, so it’s still poor. The afternoon gets a bit more energy (1198, strong), but again, fresh cross-shore wind ruins it. This pattern holds all the way through to Wednesday (29 July) – small swell, moderate to strong combined energy, but always trashed by the wind.

Thursday (30 July) morning is interesting, but not for the right reasons. The swell jumps to 6ft from the NW with a short period of 8 seconds. That’s over 5ft, so it’s getting too big for beginners, and the short period means it’s weak, local windswell. The cross-shore NW wind at 15 mph is still there. The combined energy is very strong (1213), but it’s a messy, choppy wave. The afternoon drops back to 3ft SSW. This is one for the experts only, and even then, it’s not great.

From Friday (31 July) through Tuesday (5 August), the story doesn’t change. The swell is all over the place – 2ft to 5ft, from SSW, S, and WNW directions. The wind is relentless from the NW or WNW, 12 to 22 mph, always cross-shore. The combined energy is moderate (208 to 704). Every single window is marked as poor surf conditions or marginal at best. The waves will be there, but they’ll be lumpy, cross-chop, and a complete chore to paddle in.

By Wednesday (6 August), the wind eases a little to a light breeze from the W, but it’s cross-on, and the swell has dropped to a tiny 2ft from the SSW. The combined energy is weak (279). It’s still poor.

Honestly, there’s no standout session in this 16-day window. The wind is the killer. It’s a long stretch of poor surf, and the only glimmer of hope is the long period groundswell that’s getting ruined. If you’re desperate, the Wednesday morning (22 July) is the best of a bad bunch, but keep expectations low. The rest is a blank run. For this area, it’s not unusual, but it does mean the forecast can change, so keep an eye on it.

Rusty.

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