Boiler Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s cooking at Boiler Bay. This is a reef break that only the advanced crew should be looking at, and it’s fairly consistent when it gets the right swell, which is a south-west direction. The water is a brutal 51°F right now, which is a whopping 8°F colder than usual for this time of year – that’s seriously unusual, so you’ll want a thick hood and gloves if you’re even thinking about getting in.

We’ve got a bit of a slow start, but it’s not a total write-off. The first real window of opportunity kicks off on the morning of Tuesday the 22nd of July. We’ve got a clean-looking 4ft wave from the NW, but the period is a short 8 seconds, so it’ll be a bit weak and crumbly. The energy is sitting at 391 (moderate). The wind is light and cross-off, so it’ll be clean enough for a fun little session if you’re desperate.

The swell builds a touch into Thursday the 23rd and Friday the 24th with morning waves around 4ft to 4ft from the NW, still with a short period of 9 seconds. The energy is moderate (414 and 342). The winds are light and cross or cross-off, so it stays clean, but the shorter period means it’s not going to have that real grunt. It’s “good” but not a standout.

Now, things start to get interesting. The standout session is without a doubt the afternoon of Saturday the 25th of July. The swell is only 3ft, but it’s from the SW, which is the optimum direction for this reef. The period jumps to a very long 21 seconds, so this is pure groundswell. The combined energy is a solid 809 (strong). The wind is a gentle cross-off, making for clean, lined-up waves. At a reef break, that long period will translate into beautiful, peeling waves. For a surfer who knows this spot, that’s the session to circle.

The next morning, Sunday the 26th of July, also looks very good. Another 3ft SW groundswell with a 20-second period and a light cross-off breeze. The energy is still strong at 671. It’s a close second to the Saturday afternoon.

After that, the consistency drops off. The wind goes cross-on for a few days from Monday, the 27th, into Tuesday the 28th, which messes up the surface. We get a little window Tuesday morning with a clean offshore wind from the S and a 3ft SW swell at 16 seconds (631 energy), which is worth a look if you’re free.

The later part of the first week and into the second week gets messy. By the 1st of August, the swell jumps up to 6ft to 7ft from the NW, but the period is a pathetic 7 seconds, and the wind is onshore or cross-on, creating ugly, choppy conditions. The energy is high (689), but it’s all wind-slop and no shape. That’s kite-surfing territory, not a day for a proper paddle.

The second week is a real struggle. From the 3rd of August onward, the swell drops away to nothing (2ft to 2ft with very low energy, 180-236), and the wind is generally onshore or cross-on. It’s a long, blank run. The only glimmer is the morning of the 5th of August, when we get a clean 2ft from the W with a 15-second period and a light cross-off wind. The energy is low (236), but it might offer a few clean, long-period rollers for the patient grom.

So, the bottom line: Boiler Bay is a spot for the skilled, and the water is freezing. Your best bet is the afternoon of Saturday the 25th of July and the morning of Sunday the 26th of July. Everything else is either small, short-period slop, or blown out. The second week is a long, quiet gap with very little on offer.

Rusty.

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