Doring Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, I’m Rusty, and let’s get stuck into what’s shaping up for Doring Bay over the next couple of weeks.

Right off the bat, we’ve got a classic setup here at Doring Bay, a reef break that loves a good SW groundswell. The water’s sitting at 54°F, which is a solid 5°F colder than normal for this time of year – that’s a properly chilly winter water, so don’t skimp on the rubber.

The surf week kicks off Friday, August 7th, with a serious pulse of energy. We’re looking at a 10ft SW groundswell with a long 14-second period, and the combined energy is right up there at 3201 (strong wave energy). The wind’s a cross-off from the E at 9 mph, which will keep the surface clean. But here’s the thing – with the swell this big, over 8ft, this is really only for the experienced crew. The wave comment says it’s too big for this break, so if you’re not a solid intermediate, sit this one out. The afternoon sees the wind swing S and kick up to 19 mph, still cross-off and clean, but the swell remains the same size. This is a standout for the big-wave hunters, but it’s a serious session.

Saturday, August 8th, the swell drops slightly to 8ft, but the period shortens to 13 seconds. The wind goes cross from the SSW at 12 mph, and the combined energy is still 2288 (strong). The surf quality is marginal, with a cross-chop, so it’s not the best day. Same story into Sunday, August 9th, with 10ft SW swell, but the wind is howling from the SSW at 22 mph on Sunday morning, making it lumpy. The afternoon is a bit cleaner with a cross-off S wind at 25 mph, but the swell is still huge at 12ft. The energy is 3508 (very strong). This is still expert-only territory.

Now, Monday, August 10th, is where things get interesting. The swell drops to 7ft from the SW, period at 11 seconds, and the combined energy eases to 1087 (moderate). The wind is offshore from the SE at 9 mph, and the wave comment calls it “excellent surf conditions for experienced surfers.” It’s still a bit big for beginners (over 5ft), but for the average surfer, this is the best of the early window. Clean, glassy conditions with that offshore flow. The morning is the pick.

The rest of that week fades out. Tuesday the 11th sees the swell drop to 6ft, but the wind is a strong 25 mph from the E, making it poor. Wednesday the 12th has a weird situation – a 5ft swell with a massive 19-second period, but the wind is a near gale from the ENE at 34 mph. That long period swell will be breaking straight at the reef, not ideal, and the wind is just too strong. Thursday the 13th, same story, big period but terrible wind. Friday the 14th and Saturday the 15th are marginal at best, with cross-onshore winds.

Then, we have a legit glimmer on Sunday, August 16th. The morning is glassy – wind from the WNW at just 3 mph, with a 6ft WSW swell and a 13-second period. The combined energy is 1309 (moderate), and the wave comment says “excellent surf conditions for experienced surfers.” This is the other standout. The swell is manageable, the conditions are clean as a whistle. The afternoon stays good with a 5ft WSW swell and a 16-second period, light cross-shore wind. This is a session for the crew that wants a smooth, rippable reef.

The last week, from Monday the 17th onward, gets messy. The swell is there, but the wind is consistently cross or cross-shore, and the quality drops. By the 22nd of August, we get another 10ft pulse, but the wind is a lumpy 19 mph, and it’s too big for the break again. The final days of the forecast are a mix of poor conditions and marginal calls.

So, the two true standouts are Friday, August 7th for the big-wave specialists (10ft SW, 14s, clean cross-off wind) and Sunday, August 16th for the intermediate-to-experienced crew (6ft WSW, glassy morning, clean lines). The gaps in between are filled with wind and size issues, so pick your windows carefully.

Rusty, signing off.

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