Doran Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s look at what’s on the cards for Doran Beach. It’s not a classic setup for us—it's exposed to the SW, which is its sweet spot, but we’ve got a real mix of conditions coming. The water is sitting at 59°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, so the wetsuit might feel a bit more forgiving than usual.

The first few days are pretty marginal. Saturday the 25th and Sunday the 26th have tiny, weak SW swell, only 3ft to 3ft. The combined energy is moderate (736), but the wind is a fresh cross-off, so it’ll be clean. Problem is, there’s just not enough oomph. The swell period is short, under 8 seconds, meaning the waves will be fat and lack push. It’s really only a go-out if you’re desperate to get wet.

We get a slight bump on Monday the 27th morning with 4ft from the SW, but it’s still short period and choppy. The energy is still moderate (771). The winds are a moderate cross-off, so it will be clean, but it's still marginal. Not the kind of session you’d drive for.

Then things go a bit sideways. By Wednesday the 29th afternoon, the swell jumps to a massive 10ft from the NW, but the period is a shocking 8 seconds. The combined energy is very strong (1540), but that’s just a lot of water moving. For a beach break like Doran, that short-period, big, fat NW swell will just be a closeout mess and way too big for most. This setup looks more interesting for the kite surfers than paddle surfing. The same story repeats on Saturday the 1st of August afternoon, with another 10ft NW swell.

The one standout window in the whole run is Friday the 31st of July morning. We’ve got a solid 6ft from the NW, but the period is still short at 8 seconds. The winds are light and gentle, so it should be reasonably clean. The combined energy is very strong (1218). The forecast suggests excellent surf conditions for experienced surfers, and that’s the call. At that size, it’s not for beginners, but if you’ve got the skills, that morning is the best we’ve got.

After that, the options fade again. There’s a small glimmer on Saturday the 1st of August morning with 4ft from the S, period 13 seconds giving it some nice shape, but the swell is small. And then on Wednesday the 5th of August, we get a 6ft WNW swell with a slightly better period of 10 seconds, but winds are light and cross, and the combined energy is moderate (573). It’s surfable, but not a standout.

Overall, it’s a lean couple of weeks. There are gaps of several days with nothing worth paddling out for. Don't hold your breath for anything magical. Stick to the morning of Friday the 31st if you can handle the size. Otherwise, you’re on the beach watching the kites.

Rusty.

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