Doring Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right, listen up. It’s Rusty here, and I’ve been staring at the charts for Doring Bay all week. It’s a bit of a mixed bag, to be honest, but there’s definitely some life in it if you play your cards right.

We’re looking at a fair amount of swell energy pushing in, mostly from the southwest, which is what this reef wants to see. The water temp is sitting at 58°F, which is a bit colder than usual for this time of year, so you’ll be wanting the thick rubber regardless of what the sky’s doing.

The start of the period is a write-off. The wind is all over the place, mostly cross and cross-onshore with a bit of chop, and the surf just looks messy. The energy is moderate, but it’s not doing us any favors. This junk lasts right through the weekend and into Monday. There’s a bump on Monday afternoon but it’s short-period and lumpy, just not worth the paddle. Tuesday morning it drops right out, barely a ripple and onshore, so don’t even bother. The afternoon sees a little long-period energy sneak in, but it’s still cross-onshore and pretty average. Honestly, for a solid five days, you’re better off finding something else to do.

Now, here’s where it starts to get interesting. The swell settles down, but more importantly, that wind finally swings around. We get a window from the 17th with the wind going offshore from the ESE. It’s a gentle breeze, but it makes all the difference, cleaning up the lines. You’re seeing chest to head-high sets, but it’s a bit inconsistent and the crowd might be out, so pick your moments. It’s surfable, but not the main event.

The standout, and I mean *the* standout, of this whole outlook is the 18th. You’re getting a proper pulse of southwest groundswell, head-high to a bit over it, and the wind is forecast to be offshore again in the morning. The energy jumps into the strong range, and there’s a promise of long, clean, offshore waves. This is the sweet spot. The afternoon has the swell nudging up a bit more, but that morning session is going to be the one. This is what you’ve been waiting for.

After that, we get a bit of a let-down. The 19th and 20th are still worth a paddle with clean, cross-offshore wind and consistent chest to head-high surf, but the magic of the 18th is gone. It’s still fun, but the energy is a bit more moderate.

Then it all falls apart again. From the 21st, the wind goes onshore and we get a couple of days of choppy, poor conditions. The swell is there, but it’s not doing anything for us.

There’s a hint of something for the 25th and 26th, but the wind is howling from the southwest, making it pretty hairy. With that kind of wind and the swell direction, this setup over the reef looks a lot more interesting for the kite crew than anyone on a paddleboard. That long-range stuff is promising, but I wouldn’t book my flights for it yet.

Stick with that Thursday the 18th call.

Rusty, out.

Read more