Albatross Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s on offer at Albatross (beach and reef). We’ve got a bit of a slow start, but the second half of this forecast window is where the real action is. The water is sittin’ at 54°F, which is 12°F colder than usual – that’s far colder than what you’d expect for this time of year, so make sure you’ve got a good thick wetsuit.

The first few days are a bit of a write-off. Wednesday the 9th is weak and messy, with a 2ft SW swell and a cross-shore breeze makin’ it pretty ordinary. Thursday morning the 10th picks up a little with a clean 3ft SSW swell and offshore wind, but it’s still small. The real green light comes Thursday afternoon: a clean 5ft SW swell (moderate offshore) and combined wave energy hittin’ 1677 – that’s a solid moderate energy. This is a good sign for the weekend ahead.

Friday morning the 11th is the standout of this first week. Glassy conditions, 7ft SW swell with a period of 13 seconds – that’s a nice groundswell. The energy is strong at 1286. This will be clean and fun for intermediate to advanced surfers. The crowds are sometimes here, so you might have a few others out, but it’s worth it. Friday afternoon turns a bit cross-shore and the swell drops slightly, so get on it early.

Saturday the 12th is a write-off – cross-onshore winds and choppy. Sunday the 13th has a big 7ft SW swell but the wind is messy again, so it’s not the day.

Now, Monday the 14th morning is a real surprise. Glassy conditions with a 8ft swell, but it’s comin’ from the ESE with a short period of 9 seconds. That’s a bit of a mixed bag – the energy is strong (1502), but that short period means it might be a bit walled up. Still, glassy is glassy, and it’s worth a look if you’re keen.

The big stuff starts rollin’ in from Wednesday the 16th. Wednesday afternoon sees a massive 12ft SW swell (period 15 seconds) with cross-offshore winds – that’s for experienced surfers only. The energy is huge at 6324. This is a serious groundswell. Given it’s a beach and reef setup, keep an eye on the tide. Thursday the 17th is also excellent, with 10ft SW swell in the morning, clean and cross-offshore, and again a strong energy of 3169. This is the best run of the forecast.

The following week gets a bit patchy. Saturday the 19th afternoon has a clean 7ft SW swell with cross-offshore wind – a good option. Sunday the 20th has strong offshore winds but with a 10ft SW swell, it’s again only for the experienced. The 10ft on Sunday morning has a period of 13 seconds and energy of 3416 – very powerful.

After that, from Monday the 21st through to the end, conditions deteriorate with onshore and cross-onshore winds, makin’ it mostly poor. Thursday the 24th has a 7ft SW swell in the afternoon with clean conditions, but the energy is moderate (1609), and it’s a long way out.

Bottom line: If you’re lookin’ for the standout, it’s Thursday afternoon the 10th for a solid start, Friday morning the 11th for glassy perfection, and the massive groundswell from Wednesday the 16th through Thursday the 17th for the real heavy stuff. Don’t sleep on those.

Rusty.

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