Doran Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s break down the next couple of weeks at Doran Beach.

Overall, it’s a bit of a mixed bag. The first week kicks off with some solid swell, but there’s a trade-off with the winds not being perfect. The standout window looks to be right at the end of the run, so keep your eyes peeled for that.

We start off on Tuesday, July 14th with a small 4ft swell from the WNW, but the cross-shore breeze is making things a bit bumpy. The water is sitting at 56°F, which is about average for the time of year here. The energy is weak (388). It’s not bad, but it’s not clean. Wednesday the 15th sees a jump in size to 6ft from the WNW, but the wind picks up to a moderate 12 mph cross-off, which keeps things manageable. The energy is still moderate (593). However, by Wednesday afternoon, the wind gets up to 22 mph, and while the swell hits 8ft, it’s getting blown out and messy. That’s getting too big for beginners.

Thursday the 16th is a turning point. The morning is still a bit lumpy with 7ft swell, but the afternoon is where it gets interesting. We’re looking at a solid 10ft from the WNW with a clean cross-off breeze. The energy is strong (1322), but that size is strictly for experts only. This is Doran Beach, a beginner-friendly spot normally, so this setup is more interesting for the kite surfers than paddle surfers. The swell is just too big for this break.

Friday the 17th settles down to a more manageable 5ft to 6ft with clean conditions, but the energy is still moderate. It’s surfable, but nothing to write home about. Then we hit a bit of a lull. From Saturday the 18th through to Thursday the 23rd, we’re looking at small, weak swell in the 2ft to 3ft range. The wind is light and mostly cross-shore, but the wave comment keeps saying “marginal.” There’s even a long-period groundswell (16-17 seconds) in there, but the size is just too small to do anything with on a beach break like this. It’ll be clean but tiny.

Friday the 24th afternoon shows a bit of a pulse, with a clean 3ft from the S, and the energy is starting to build (1102). This leads into the real highlight of the forecast. Saturday, July 25th morning is the pick of the bunch. We’ve got a 4ft swell from the S, with a gentle cross-off breeze and clean conditions. The combined energy is strong (1335), and it’s reading as excellent for experienced surfers. The wind is light, so it should be glassy. This is the one to aim for. The afternoon stays clean but the wind picks up a touch.

Sunday the 26th has a nice 3ft swell from the SW with a very long 20-second period, which is a proper groundswell. The energy is very strong (1429), and it’s clean. That long period will make for some nice, lined-up waves, though it might be a bit walled up for the beach. You’ll want to be on it early. Monday the 27th is also a good call with 3ft from the SW and an 18-second period, offering very good conditions. The last week then fades out with smaller, less clean surf.

So, for the best on offer: Saturday, July 25th morning is your standout. Clean, solid S swell, and light winds. Sunday, July 26th morning is also a strong contender with that long-period groundswell. The rest of the time, it’s a waiting game.

Rusty

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