Donkin Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here with a look at the waves on the horizon. We’ve got one main spot firing on the radar, Donkin Bay, a reef and point setup that’s going to be the main game in town for the next couple of weeks. The first few days have some solid size, but it’s the quieter windows where this place really shines.

Donkin Bay (a reef and point break) is the only spot on offer. Monday morning, 17 August, we’re looking at a hefty 8.2 ft of WSW swell rolling in with a long 13 second period, so there’s plenty of grunt behind it. Combined swell energy is sitting at 2318, which is strong and packed with power. The wind is a light cross-shore, so the surface will have a bit of texture, but nothing too nasty. This size, though – at 8.2 ft – it’s pushing into expert-only territory, especially on a reef. It’s a tough paddle out with those long waits between sets. The afternoon drops a touch to 7.5 ft, but the wind picks up to a gentle breeze, making things a little messier with a slight cross-chop.

Tuesday morning, 18 August, is where it starts getting interesting. The swell drops to a more manageable 6.6 ft from the WSW, still with that 13 second groundswell pulse, and the combined energy is a solid 1246. But the key here is the wind – a light cross-offshore breeze from the S making the faces clean. This is good, experienced surf. The water temp is about average for the time of year, so no surprises there.

Wednesday, 19 August, the wind freshens up to 22 mph in the afternoon, turning the normally nice lineup into a lumpy cross-chop. Not worth it. We skip to Thursday morning, 20 August, for another clean window. Similar setup – 6.6 ft SW swell, 12 second period, light cross-off wind, and the water looking clean again. That is your best early bet.

Friday, 21 August, the wind stays cross and the quality drops out. Saturday, 22 August, the swell drops to 4.3 ft and the combined energy falls way off to around 373. The wind is a light cross, but with that small, short-period swell, it’s a bit of a nothing day.

Sunday, 23 August, a new pulse of WSW swell arrives at 6.6 ft with a 13 second period, bringing the energy back up to 1317. The morning has light wind, so keep an eye on that.

The standout day, without a doubt, is Tuesday morning, 25 August. The swell is a smaller 3.3 ft from the SW, a clean 12 second period, and the combined energy is a mild 493. The magic is the wind – a true offshore breeze from the ESE at a light 6 mph. Expect clean, peeling lines off the point. It’s small but it’ll be absolutely pristine. The crowds are listed as “sometimes,” so you might not have the place to yourself. This is the pick of the whole 16-day window. The afternoon sees a weird shift with a 22 second period groundswell from the SW, which is very long and could make the waves break a little too straight at the point, plus the onshore wind chops it up.

The second half of the month drops off. Thursday, 27 August, has some clean cross-off wind for the afternoon session with 4.9 ft from the WSW. Friday, 29 August, the wind howls at 19 mph, making a 8.2 ft swell a total mess. That’s more of a kite-surfing day than a paddling session. Sunday, 30 August, morning has a clean breeze with 5.2 ft, but it’s just okay.

So, to sum it up: the peak action is this morning for the brave, but the real gem is Tuesday morning, 25 August. Don’t sleep on it. After that, the forecast is a lot of windy, lumpy days, with a few clean scraps on the 30 August morning. Stay sharp.

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