Bali Bay (Glen Reef) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, this is Rusty, and I’m looking at the next couple of weeks for Bali Bay (Glen Reef). This is a reef break, and it’s very consistent, so it’s always on the radar.

Right off the bat, Saturday the 8th is a bit of a mixed bag. The morning has some clean 8ft SW swell with a solid 13-second period, and the wind is a gentle cross-offshore breeze. The water is sitting at 56°, which is a noticeable 4° colder than usual for this time of year, so you’ll want a thicker suit. The combined energy of the swell is pumping hard at 2376 (moderate wave energy), but it’s sizey enough that this is really for experienced surfers only. The afternoon goes downhill fast with a bigger 12ft swell and a cross-onshore wind that makes it choppy, so the morning is your window.

Sunday the 9th is a write-off. Strong cross-shore winds at 22 mph and lumpy, poor conditions mean you’re better off doing something else. Monday the 10th isn’t much better even if the wind is cleaner; the swell is messy and the tide is questionable.

Now, the real standout starts on Tuesday the 11th. The morning has a clean 7ft S swell with a 12-second period, light ESE wind, and the energy is still strong at 1765. But the absolute gem is Tuesday afternoon. The wind goes glassy, dead calm, with a clean 5ft SSW swell. That’s the kind of condition that makes a reef break absolutely perfect. The combined energy is a moderate 1059, which is much more manageable. This is the best on offer in the first week.

Wednesday the 12th and Thursday the 13th keep the quality high. Wednesday sees 6ft to 6ft SW swell with a very long 18-second period and clean winds. That long period means the waves will have real power and shape, but at a reef break like this, it’s going to be a ripping session. Thursday morning is the big one in the middle of the week though: 8ft SW swell, 18-second period, and a clean offshore wind from the east. The combined energy hits 4162 (strong wave energy), making it a powerful, clean, long-period groundswell. This is a proper session for experienced surfers.

The weekend of the 15th and 16th gets a bit lumpy again with moderate cross-shore winds, so the quality drops. The surf is still there, but it’s not as clean.

Looking further ahead, Monday the 17th has a clean morning with 7ft WSW swell and a light offshore breeze, so that’s a good pick. Then the middle of the week (18th-19th) is a bit average with light cross-shore winds.

The last true standout in the forecast is a long way out, on Sunday the 23rd. It’s glassy in the morning, with a solid 10ft SW swell and a 12-second period. The combined energy is a huge 2920 (moderate wave energy). That’s another one for the experienced crew. The afternoon gets even bigger at 13ft, but it goes cross-onshore, so it’s probably too much for the break.

Overall, the clear winners are Tuesday afternoon the 11th for the glassy, clean conditions, and Thursday morning the 13th for the powerful, long-period offshore session. The long-range Sunday the 23rd is a promising one, but it’s a ways off, so keep an eye on it.

Rusty.

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