Dracula Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the cards for the next couple of weeks.

Alright, I won’t lie to you – the next 16 days are a bit of a mixed bag, but there are some real windows of opportunity if you’re patient. The main spot on the radar is Dracula. This is a reef break, so it’s one for the advanced crew only, and it’s very consistent, which is a good base to work from. The swell is coming from the NNW pretty much the whole time, which is right in the sweet spot for this place.

We’ve got a bit of a slow start. The first few days, from Monday the 3rd of August through to Thursday the 6th, are pretty rough. We’re looking at swell heights between 5 ft and 8 ft, but the wind is a real problem. It’s a persistent cross-shore, mostly fresh, which is just going to chop it all up. The combined energy is moderate, ranging from 234 to 779, but it’s not doing you any favours. The mornings are a little better – light breeze – but the wave comment is still just “marginal.” Honestly, those afternoons are a write-off with that strong wind.

Friday the 7th of August morning is where things start to get interesting. We’ve got a 6 ft swell from the NNW, and the wind swings to a light SSE, giving us a clean, cross-off breeze. The energy is moderate at 480. This is the first real window of clean surf. The afternoon gets messy again, so it’s a morning-only play.

Saturday the 8th of August morning is the standout of the first week. The wind drops to glassy – a 3 mph westerly with a slight air – and we’ve got a 6 ft swell from the NNW. The energy is sitting at 374, and the water is clean with no wind chop. This is pure, unadulterated reef surfing. The crowd factor is “sometimes,” so you might have a few others out, but it’s worth it.

Sunday the 9th of August morning is another glassy morning, with a 6 ft swell and 3 mph north wind. Energy is 308. This is another clean, quality session. The pattern is clear: the mornings are the only game in town, and the afternoons are blown out.

The middle of the week gets a bit ordinary again. Monday the 10th and Tuesday the 11th have a bit of a cross-on or cross-off wind, but the swell drops a touch. Tuesday the 11th morning does have glassy conditions with a 5 ft swell, but it’s a bit smaller.

Now, Wednesday the 12th of August morning – mark this one down. A 5 ft SSW swell, and the wind is a dead calm, 0 mph. Absolutely glassy. Energy is 293. This is as good as it gets for a reef break. The water temperature is about average for this time of year, so no surprises there.

The second week is a bit more of a waiting game. Friday the 14th of August has a 7 ft swell in the morning, but it’s a light cross-shore, so it’s not clean. The afternoon is a no-go. Sunday the 16th of August morning is another glassy winner – 6 ft swell, 3 mph NW wind, and clean. That’s a solid one.

The final day, Tuesday the 18th of August, sees the swell drop right off to 4 ft, with a light cross-off wind. It’s surfable, but it’s the end of the run.

So, the best of the best? Saturday the 8th of August morning and Wednesday the 12th of August morning – glassy, clean, and solid swell. For the later week, Sunday the 16th of August morning is your best bet. The afternoons are a write-off for the whole period, so don’t even bother.

If you’re not an advanced surfer, that 5 ft to 8 ft range on a reef can be a bit much, especially when it’s over 7 ft. For the bigger days, like the 8 ft afternoons, that’s strictly expert territory. The period is short, mostly 7 to 8 seconds, so it’s not a long groundswell, but it’s punchy enough for this reef.

Stay patient, get up early, and you’ll score.

Rusty.

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