Cowries Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here, let’s talk about what’s on offer at Cowries.

First up, the water’s sitting at about 66°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, so you might not need that extra thick wetsuit.

We’ve got a bit of a slow start, but the real action fires up from Saturday morning, July 25th. That’s the standout window. Saturday morning sees a solid 5ft south swell, with a clean cross-offshore wind from the west, making for some tidy waves. The energy is pumping at a moderate 450 (combined energy), so there’s proper push in the water. Then Saturday afternoon goes glassy, dropping to about 4ft from the south, but with that northwest wind dying off, the surf will be silky smooth.

Sunday morning, the 26th, is another cracker. The swell bumps up to 6ft from the south, period around 11 seconds, and a clean offshore wind from the WSW. That’s a decent groundswell, and the energy jumps to 660 (combined energy). This is the pick of the bunch for the whole forecast – it’s got size, it’s clean, and the reef-and-point setup at Cowries will handle that long period well. Keep in mind it’s a beginner-friendly spot, so 6ft is pushing it for total novices, but for anyone with a bit of time in the water, it’s prime.

The middle of the week is a write-off. From Monday the 27th through to Wednesday the 30th, the swell drops right off or gets messy with onshore winds. Thursday the 30th has some size – 7ft from the south – but the wind is cross-off and the conditions are marginal, with a note that the tide might be tricky. That’s more for the experienced crew, and honestly, the quality isn’t there.

After that, it’s a long stretch of small, weak surf. Friday the 31st has a glassy 4ft south swell in the morning, but it’s ordinary. The first week of August is just flat or tiny, with poor conditions. The second week looks bleak – nothing over 4ft, and most of it is under 3ft. The last few days, from the 5th to the 8th, are mostly under 2ft and weak, with a few bumps from the northeast but short period and messy winds. There’s a gap of about 5 days from August 2nd where there’s barely a ripple worth mentioning.

So, bottom line: the best surf is Saturday the 25th and Sunday the 26th of July. Saturday afternoon for glass, Sunday morning for a bit more power. After that, it’s a waiting game.

Rusty.

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