Doran Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s take a look at what’s shaping up for Doran Beach over the next couple of weeks.

Right off the bat, it’s a bit of a slow start. The surf we’ve got on offer is pretty marginal for the first few days, and honestly, nothing really jumps out as a proper session until we get a bit further into the forecast. The water temp is sitting at about 56°, which is pretty much bang on average for this time of year, so no surprises there.

Tuesday the 21st sees a small 3 ft swell from the SW with a 14-second period, but that cross-on breeze from the SSW at 6 mph is putting a bit of a ripple on it. The combined energy is moderate at 534. It’s a short, inconsistent wave, and really only one for a beginner to mess around on if they’re desperate.

Wednesday the 22nd kicks off with a messy 5 ft southerly swell, but the wind is straight onshore at 9 mph, so it’s not doing anyone any favours. The afternoon cleans up a touch with some cross-shore breeze, but the swell drops back to 3 ft. Still not worth paddling out for.

Thursday the 23rd and Friday the 24th offer a bit more hope. The wind turns cross-offshore from the WNW, and the swell hangs around 3 ft to 3 ft from the SSW and SW. The period is a nice long 14 to 24 seconds, which is proper groundswell energy. The combined energy sits in the moderate range (594 on Thursday morning, 695 on Friday morning). The waves are clean, but the size is tiny. It’s inconsistent, and Doran Beach is an exposed beginner spot, so these are really just for the longboard or a gentle paddle.

The real standout, the one that’s got me a little excited, is the morning of Saturday, July 26th. The swell is 3 ft from the SW with a 19-second period, and the wind is a clean cross-offshore at 12 mph. The combined energy is strong at 970. It’s not huge, but the conditions are clean, and for a spot that’s inconsistent, that’s a solid window for a few fun ones. The waves won’t be big, but they’ll be lined up and clean.

Now, later that same day (Sunday the 26th afternoon) and into the following week, the size starts to kick up. The afternoon of the 26th sees a 8 ft NW swell, but it’s short-period at 7 seconds, and the wind is pumping at 22 mph. That’s messy and blown out. The energy is strong (1233), but the quality is poor.

The Tuesday afternoon of July 28th is a huge red flag. The forecast is showing a 10 ft NW swell with a short 8-second period, and the wind is a strong 25 mph. The combined energy is massive at 1857. That’s too big for this break. It’s really only for experts, and even then, the wind and short period will make it a washing machine. Honestly, that setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing.

The rest of the week into early August is a mixed bag of small, clean but marginal swells. The morning of Friday, July 31st offers a 6 ft NW swell with a clean cross-off breeze and strong energy (1013). It’s a bit better, but still not a stand-out.

The very end of the run, Wednesday, August 5th, sees a 6 ft to 7 ft NW swell with a 9 to 10-second period and moderate energy. The wind is cross-off, so it’ll be clean, but the size is pushing into the range that’s a bit much for beginners (over 5 ft). It’s a decent option for a more experienced surfer if the tides line up, but it’s a long way out, so don’t hold your breath.

Overall, the best bet in this 16-day window is the Saturday, July 26th morning session. It’s clean, the swell is a nice long period, and it’s the only time the conditions really come together for a proper, fun session. The rest of the time, it’s either too small, too windy, or too big for the spot. Keep an eye on that July 26th morning, but don’t expect much else.

Rusty.

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