Donkin Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

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

We’ve got a bit of a slow start on the cards for Donkin Bay, a reef and point set-up that needs a solid south-west swell to really light up. The water is sitting at 53°, which is a whopping 6° colder than usual for this time of year – that’s seriously unusual, so you’ll want a thick hood and gloves if you’re heading out.

The first real chance of a wave comes Thursday morning, the 3rd of September, but it’s a write-off. We’ve got a 6ft WSW swell (13 second period) with a fresh 19 mph onshore wind, creating a messy 1170 combined energy (moderate). It’s poor, so don’t bother.

Friday the 4th is where things get a little more interesting. The morning is still a bit rough with a 3ft SSW swell, but by the afternoon, the wind swings SE at 16 mph and goes offshore. That cleans up the 4ft SSW swell (10 seconds) nicely. The combined energy is 369 (moderate). It’s not huge, but it’ll be clean and fun for an intermediate.

Saturday the 5th is small and ordinary. A 2ft SSW swell in the morning with offshore wind is surfable, but nothing to write home about. The afternoon drops to 1ft – forget it.

Sunday the 6th is a tease. The morning shows a 4ft WSW swell but with a massive 18-second period, giving it 1057 combined energy (moderate). The problem is the wind is cross-off at 19 mph, which messes with the shape. This long period groundswell is better suited for a point or reef, but the wind is the killer here.

The standout window starts to shape up on Tuesday the 8th of September. Morning glass-off, zero wind, with a 4ft WSW swell at 12 seconds (437 combined energy). That’s clean, smooth, and perfect for a reef. Conditions are good, and this is your best early bet.

Then we hit Wednesday the 16th of September. This is the one. The morning offers a 5ft SW swell, 14-second period, combined energy of 1133 (strong), with a slight SE breeze making it cross-off and clean. The report says it’s excellent for experienced surfers. This is a true standout. The swell direction matches the optimum SW, the wind is clean, and the energy is pumping. Get on it.

Later that same day, the wind shifts and the afternoon gets messy, but the morning session is the gold.

Further out, Thursday the 17th and Friday the 18th see a massive pulse of swell. Thursday morning brings a 8ft WSW swell with an 18-second period, but the cross-wind is a fresh 19 mph, making it lumpy. By Friday the 18th, the swell is 13ft (WSW) with a 15-second period, which is way too big for this break. The combined energy is 7941 (very strong), but it’s just too much. Kite surfers might have a field day, but for paddle surfing, it’s a pass.

So, to wrap it up: the best on offer is the morning of Tuesday the 8th for a clean, glassy session, and the absolute standout is the morning of Wednesday the 16th of September for a proper, powerful, clean swell.

Rusty.

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