Bali Bay (Glen Reef) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s on the cards for Bali Bay (Glen Reef). This is a reef break, and it’s a very consistent wave, so it’s always in the conversation. Right now, the water is sitting at 57°F, which is a bit colder than normal for this time of year, so you might want an extra mil.

We’ve got a rough start. Friday the 4th is a write-off – strong winds, messy, and the swell is a confused 12 feet from the SSE at a short 8 seconds. That’s a lot of water moving, but it’s ugly. Saturday the 5th is still not great; the swell drops to 7 feet, but the wind is still cross-off and the energy is moderate. The quality is just marginal.

Now, hold onto your board. Sunday morning, the 6th, is where it gets interesting. The swell swings to the SW at 8 feet, and here’s the kicker – the period is a massive 18 seconds. That’s a proper groundswell with very long period. The combined energy is strong, and the wind is light from the SE. The report says excellent for experienced surfers. This is the standout of the first week. That long period will make the reef line up beautifully, but it’s a 8-foot swell, so it’s solid. It’s not for beginners, but for the crew that knows the reef, this is the one to aim for.

The rest of the week is a bit fickle. We get a mix of smaller SW swells, but the wind is often cross or cross-on, keeping the quality marginal. There’s a brief moment of glass on Tuesday morning the 8th with a 4-foot SSW swell, but it’s small. The energy is weak. Nothing to get too excited about.

The next real standout arrives on Saturday the 12th. This is 9 days out, so keep an eye on it. The forecast is showing a 10-foot SW groundswell with a 17-second period, glassy conditions, and the energy is very strong. The report calls it exceptional for expert surfers. That’s the big one on the horizon. However, Saturday afternoon, the swell jumps to 12 feet with onshore wind, and the report says it’s too big for the break. The morning window is the ticket.

After that, the swell stays big through the 13th, 16th, and 17th, often hitting 12 feet with strong to very strong energy. The wind is mostly cross or cross-on, and the report keeps saying it’s too big for the break. This is some serious size, so only the most experienced with a big-wave quiver should even look at it. The 18th brings a 10-foot SW swell with cleaner cross-off winds, but it’s still a heavy wave. The period drops to 12 seconds, so it’s a bit more manageable.

The last couple of days, the 19th, fade out with poor conditions and smaller, messy swell. The window is closing.

So, the bottom line: for the best quality, it’s Sunday morning the 6th. For the biggest, most powerful session, it’s Saturday morning the 12th. Don’t sleep on those.

Rusty out.

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