Doran Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what Doran Beach has got cookin' for us over the next couple of weeks.

Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you – this isn't exactly firing. The whole 16-day window is a bit of a mixed bag, and we're looking at a lot of small, marginal surf. The water is sitting around 56° which is pretty much average for this time of year, so the wetsuit call is about what you'd expect.

We'll start on Monday the 20th through most of the week. The swell is tiny, barely 2ft to 3ft from the SW or SSW, with periods around 14 to 16 seconds. That long period gives it some nice shape potential for a point or reef, but Doran Beach is an exposed beach break, so those long lines might just close out or be a bit wonky. The wind is mostly light and cross or cross-onshore, so it's not clean, but it's not blown out either. The combined energy is weak (457) to moderate (605), but the wave comment for the whole first week is almost universally "marginal surf forecast or questionable tide conditions". Honestly, the boards are gonna stay in the car for most of this.

Now, we get a little glimmer on Friday the 24th. The swell drops to 2ft but the period jumps to 24 seconds – that's a proper groundswell. The wind goes light cross-offshore, and the conditions are described as "clean". The energy is still moderate (914), but the quality of the wave should be better. This is a better bet for the experienced surfer who can work a small, clean, long-period wave. Saturday the 25th and Sunday the 26th mornings are also in the "clean" camp with similar small, long-period SW swell.

The most interesting, and biggest, change comes later. Sunday the 26th afternoon sees a shift. The swell jumps to 8ft from the NW, but the period drops to a short 7 seconds. The wind is a strong cross-offshore at 22 mph, and the energy is strong (1463). This is a whole different beast. The wave comment calls it "marginal...", but the wind is clean. Monday the 27th afternoon is a standout. The forecast says 10ft from the NW, with a short 8-second period and a strong 25 mph cross-offshore wind. The combined energy is very strong (1826). The wave comment even says "the swell is predicted to be too big for this break." At this size, with that short period and strong wind, this is an expert-only zone. The setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing. This energy carries through Tuesday the 28th with 12ft NW swell, but again, it's "too big for this break" for paddling.

The second week (starting around July 29th) remains active but difficult. Swells are in the 6ft to 8ft range from the NW, with short periods. The wind is mostly cross-off or cross, keeping things clean, but the size and short period will make it a wrestling match. The energy stays strong (1083-2389). This is not beginner territory. By August 3rd and 4th, the swell drops back to 5ft-8ft, and the wind goes onshore, making it a tough call.

So, what's the call? The best on offer is probably the small, clean, long-period groundswell on Friday the 24th and Saturday the 25th mornings. It's small, but it's the cleanest wave in the window. For the big-wave chargers, the huge NW swell on the 27th and 28th is the only time it's really got some size, but be prepared for a washing machine.

-Rusty

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