Albatross Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G'day, I'm Rusty. Let's have a look at what's coming our way.

Alright, we've got a bit of a slow start, but hang in there – the second half of the week is where the real action kicks off. The first solid recommendation doesn't come until Monday afternoon, the 3rd of August, so we're sitting through a quiet Sunday.

The first spot to keep an eye on is Albatross. It's a sheltered beach and reef setup, and it's a consistent one. The water temp is sitting at a chilly 61.7°, a full 4.3° colder than normal for this time of year, so you'll be needing a good thick wetsuit.

The action starts to build on Monday the 3rd. The afternoon sees a clean 4.6ft swell from the SW with a 13-second period, a moderate wave energy (1271). The wind is a light cross-on, but it's workable. It's not the standout, but it's a start.

Tuesday the 4th is a bit of a mixed bag. The morning is messy with a cross-on wind, but the afternoon cleans right up. We get a solid 4.6ft SW swell with a cross-off wind, making for clean conditions. The energy is moderate (826).

Wednesday the 5th is where we start to get excited. The morning is a write-off with a cross-on breeze on a small 3ft swell. But the afternoon? That's a beauty. The wind swings offshore from the SSW, and the swell jumps to a powerful 5.6ft from the SW with a very long 16-second period. The energy is strong (1566). This is a top-tier window for a point break or reef, and Albatross is a reef setup, so it will handle that long period beautifully. This is one of the best on offer.

Thursday the 6th is for the experienced crew only. The swell is a solid 11.5ft from the SW, with a 14-second period. The energy is very strong (4474 in the morning, 3718 in the afternoon). The wind is offshore and clean. This is big, powerful, and barreling – not for the faint of heart. If you're an expert, this is your day.

Friday the 7th keeps the big stuff rolling. The morning has an 8.2ft SW swell with a 14-second period and light offshore winds. The afternoon is a bit wilder with a 9.8ft SW swell and a fresh 18.6 mph offshore wind – it's clean but powerful, and the rain might keep the crowds away.

Saturday the 8th offers a slight drop in size. The morning is a bit lumpy, but the afternoon cleans up with a 7.9ft SW swell, 13-second period, and light offshore winds. This is still a solid wave for experienced surfers.

Sunday the 9th is another day of clean, powerful surf. The swell is 8.2ft to 9.8ft from the SW, with moderate offshore winds and strong energy (2733 / 2263). Consistent and clean.

Monday the 10th and Tuesday the 11th are a write-off. A huge 18ft S swell rolls in, but it's accompanied by a strong cross-shore wind that will make it a total mess. This is more of a kite-surfing show than a paddle session.

Wednesday the 12th is a bit of an odd one. The swell shifts to the ESE, a solid 11.5ft to 13.1ft, but the wind is cross or cross-on, making it choppy. The energy is very strong (4581 / 6477), but the quality is poor.

Thursday the 13th is a red-letter day. The afternoon session is an absolute standout. We get a 13.1ft swell from the SSE, with a 12-second period, and the wind is offshore from the SW. The energy is huge (8143). This is a serious, powerful, clean swell for experts only. This is the best on offer in the whole window.

Friday the 14th is a nice come-down. The swell drops to 6.9ft from the SW, with a very long 15-second period, and light offshore winds. A beautiful, clean day for a wide range of surfers.

Saturday the 15th is a bit of a gamble. The morning has onshore wind, but the afternoon goes glassy. A 5.6ft SW swell with a 13-second period and glassy conditions – that's a dream for a clean, fun wave. The energy is moderate (974).

Sunday the 16th continues the clean run. A 7.5ft SW swell with a 14-second period and offshore winds. A solid, clean day.

Monday the 17th starts clean with a 5.9ft SW swell, but the afternoon turns messy with a cross-on breeze.

Tuesday the 18th is another day of huge, messy energy. A 13.1ft SW swell with a 14-second period, but the wind is onshore and cross-on, making it a choppy beast (10802 energy). Another one for the kite surfers.

So, to wrap it up: the best windows are Wednesday afternoon the 5th for a clean, long-period groundswell, and Thursday afternoon the 13th for the biggest, most powerful, and cleanest wave

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