Donkin Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get into it.

Donkin Bay is the only spot on the radar for this stretch, and it’s a reef and point setup that needs a solid SW groundswell and clean winds to fire. The water is sitting at 56°F, which is a bit cooler than normal for this time of year, so you’ll want a decent steamer.

The first real action kicks off on Tuesday morning, the 28th of July. It’s a standout. We’ve got a 6ft SW groundswell with a long 14-second period, and the wind is blowing offshore from the east. The wave energy is pumping (1505), and the conditions are excellent for experienced surfers. This is your best chance early on – it’s powerful, clean, and the break’s exposed nature means it’ll be handling that energy well. Keep in mind, with 6ft, it’s pushing into the bigger end of the scale, so it’s not for beginners. The afternoon session stays solid with 6ft and offshore SE wind, but it’s a bit more marginal.

Wednesday and Thursday, the 29th and 30th, are a letdown. The swell drops to 5ft, then 4ft, and the wind goes cross-off or cross-onshore. The energy fades fast (680 to 437), and the quality is poor. Not worth paddling out for.

Friday the 31st through the weekend is a write-off. Swell is tiny, barely 3ft, and the wind is messy. There’s a big gap of poor surf until Monday the 3rd of August.

Now, Monday the 3rd of August morning is another true standout. The swell jumps back to 6ft from the WSW, with a long 15-second period. The wind is dead calm, glassy, from the east – a major positive. The wave energy is huge (1589), and it’s excellent for experienced surfers. This is the best-looking session in the whole outlook. After that, the wind turns onshore and the quality drops.

The second week is a mixed bag. There’s a big pulse of energy on the 5th and 6th of August, with swell hitting 7ft to 8ft, but the wind is mostly cross-onshore or onshore, making it choppy and messy. The 7th of August (Friday) morning has a solid 8ft SW swell with clean cross-off wind, but at that size, it’s strictly for experts. The 9th of August (Sunday) morning sees a 10ft swell, which is too big for this break, and the wind is onshore – a total no-go.

The best long-range call is on the 12th of August (Wednesday) morning. We’re looking at a 8ft WSW groundswell with a very long 16-second period, clean offshore wind, and massive energy (3415). This is a proper groundswell, so it’s going to be powerful and lined up, but those long gaps between sets will make it easier to get out. It’s excellent for experienced surfers, but again, 8ft is expert territory. It’s promising, but we’re a couple weeks out, so keep an eye on the wind.

Overall, don’t bother with the middle of the first week. The standout is Tuesday morning the 28th of July, and then Monday morning the 3rd of August. If you’re an expert, circle the 12th of August (Wednesday) morning.

Rusty.

Read more