Castles Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. Look, I’ll level with you – the next 16 days are a bit of a mixed bag at Castles, a sandbar setup. The swell is mostly small, and the wind is a constant battle. We’ve got a long stretch of mediocrity, but if you’re patient, there’s one solid afternoon that might just make it worth hanging in there.

The long-range outlook is a bit of a write-off for the most part. After a promising Wednesday window, we’re looking at a gap of several days with nothing to get excited about – from Friday, July 24, right through to the end of the month and into early August, the conditions are mostly poor, with small, short-period swell and onshore or cross-shore winds. The only real bright spot almost a week away is on Monday, August 3, when we might get a glassy morning.

Alright, let’s get into the details. The best surf on offer is shaping up for Wednesday, July 22. The morning is a bit of a tease with a 5ft swell from the south, but it’s the afternoon that’s the standout. The swell picks up to 6ft, still from the south, with a period of 9 seconds – that’s decent groundswell energy. The combined swell energy is moderate (700), so there’s some push. The wind turns clean and cross-offshore from the WNW at 9 mph, which should keep the lines tidy. This is your best chance for a proper session. It’s a little on the bigger side, so beginners might find it challenging.

The rest of the week is a grind. Thursday morning, July 23 has a clean 4ft swell from the SSE, but the energy is weak (168) and the wind is cross-off, so it’s workable if you’re desperate. The water temperature is about average for this time of year, so no surprises there.

Then we hit that dead zone. From Friday, July 24, right through to the end of the month, the swell drops below 3ft, period is short, and the wind is all over the place – cross, cross-on, onshore. It’s just poor surf conditions, day after day. The combined energy is mostly under 100, so it’s weak.

The only other glimmer is on Monday, August 3. The morning is forecast to be glassy – no wind, just a slight air – with a 4ft swell from the ENE. The period is a short 6 seconds, so it’s weak windswell, and the energy is low (105). It’s surfable, but ordinary. Still, a glassy morning is a rare treat, and if you’re keen for a paddle, it might be the best of a bad bunch.

So, bottom line: Wednesday afternoon is the one to circle. The rest is a lot of waiting. Stay patient, and check the forecasts again.

Rusty.

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