Albatross Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Righto, grab ya board, let’s have a look at what’s coming. I’m Rusty, and I’ve been staring at the charts for Albatross, and there’s a whole lot to unpack here. The water’s a bit colder than usual for this time of year, sitting at 63° with a 4° anomaly, so you’ll want a decent spring suit.

The first real action kicks off Tuesday morning, the 21st of July. The ocean’s got a solid 6 ft of SW groundswell wrapping in, with a very long period of 15 seconds. The wave energy is pumping hard at (1748), and with a glassy WSW wind at 3 mph, it’s going to be absolutely clean. This is a morning for the beginner-friendly Albatross (beach and reef) setup, and it’s a consistent spot, so you won’t be waiting forever. The only catch? It can be crowded sometimes, so get in early.

Tuesday afternoon sees the swell jump to 8 ft from the SSW, but the wind swings SE at 6 mph, putting a cross-shore chop on it. The energy is up to (2970), but it’s a bit of a messy one. Not the best call.

Wednesday morning, the 22nd, is a beauty. A clean 7 ft SW swell (1700) with a cross-offshore breeze from the WSW at 9 mph. The waves will have shape and the wind is cleaning them up nicely. That’s a solid session.

Thursday morning, the 23rd, the swell drops a touch to 5 ft from the SSW, but with a light cross-offshore wind from the W at 6 mph, it’s still a very clean, fun morning. The energy is a bit lower at (1056), but it’s a good one for a longer board.

Now, hold on to your hats. Friday morning, the 24th of July, is a standout. We’re looking at a 13 ft SSW swell with a massive 16-second period. The wave energy is absolutely pumping at (8411). The wind is glassy from the WSW at 3 mph. That is heavy, powerful, and clean. This is excellent surf, but at 13 ft, it’s strictly for experts only. The very long period makes it a beast, so it’ll be best at the reef and point sections of Albatross, as it might close out on the beach.

Saturday the 25th is a write-off. The swell is still solid at 8 ft to 10 ft, but the wind is coming from the east, cross-onshore, making it a lumpy, choppy mess. Not worth paddling out.

Sunday the 26th is a mixed bag. The morning is a no-go with a strong NNW cross-wind, but Sunday afternoon is a redemption arc. The wind swings to a clean offshore from the SW at 9 mph, with a 7 ft SW swell (1070). That’s a lovely, clean afternoon session.

The following week gets a bit wild. Monday the 27th has a strong breeze from the W at 25 mph, so the 8 ft to 10 ft swells will be blown out and ugly. Tuesday the 28th is similar, with the wind still strong, but the swell is big. Wednesday the 29th afternoon looks promising, with a 10 ft SSW swell and a light cross-offshore breeze from the S at 6 mph, making it clean for the experienced crew.

Thursday the 30th is a good call. The morning is glassy with a 7 ft SW swell (1494), and the afternoon is clean with a 7 ft SW swell (1751). That’s a solid day.

Now, look at the big one. Saturday the 1st of August morning. The forecast is showing a monstrous 20 ft SW swell with a 12-second period, and the energy is off the charts at (10432). The wind is dead calm, glassy. This is an exceptional event for expert surfers only. The swell is massive, so it’s a dangerous beast. The afternoon is ruined by a strong onshore wind, so it’s a one-session window.

Sunday the 2nd of August still has a 13 ft swell, but the wind is onshore, so it’s a messy, lumpy day. Best left to the big wave chargers with a tow-in.

Monday the 3rd of August afternoon sees a drop in swell to 8 ft from the SSE, with a clean offshore wind from the WSW at 12 mph. That’s a good one for experienced surfers. The energy is moderate at (2189).

The final days fade out. Tuesday the 4th and Wednesday the 5th of August have small, weak swells or poor conditions, so the window closes.

Overall, the standout is Friday the 24th of July morning for the experts, and the absolute monster is Saturday the 1st of August morning. For the regular crew, Thursday the 30th of July is your best bet for clean, fun waves.

Rusty.

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