Dracula Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's break down what Dracula's got in store for us over the next couple of weeks.

Right off the bat, it's a bit of a mixed bag. The early part of the forecast is a real tease – there's some swell in the water, but the wind is going to be a pain in the arse for most of it. The first few days are all about watching and waiting, with the wind messing up what could be decent waves. The combined energy is kicking around between 157 and 359 (weak to moderate), so there's some push, but it's just not clean.

We have to wait until Tuesday morning, August 18th, for our first real window of opportunity. The morning is looking like a little gem. The wind goes completely glassy from the SW, and we've got a 5ft swell from the NNW with a period of 9 seconds. That's a solid groundswell with good energy, and it's going to shape up nicely on this reef. The combined energy is a moderate 288. This is the standout of the first week, no doubt. It's a clean, glassy morning, which is hard to beat.

The run from there gets a bit messy again, with a lot of cross and cross-onshore winds blowing through the afternoons, and the mornings are often just marginal. The swell does build, though. By Saturday the 22nd, we're seeing 5ft to 6ft on the charts, but it's still a bit of a battle with the wind.

Now, the real winner is tucked away in the second week. Mark your calendars for the morning of Sunday, August 23rd. The wind is glassy again out of the WSW, the swell is 5ft from the NNW with a solid 10-second period, and the combined energy is a strong 460. This is a proper, clean groundswell that is going to fire. The water temperature is about average for this time of year, so no surprises there.

But if you want the biggest, best shot of the whole forecast, you have to look at the mornings of Wednesday the 26th and Thursday the 27th. On the 26th, we've got a 7ft swell from the NNW with glassy winds, and the combined energy is a very strong 661. That's a big, powerful swell for a reef break. The 27th morning is even better, with another 7ft swell, clean glassy conditions, and a combined energy of 552. This is expert territory. The water is a bit bigger than 8ft, so only the experienced crew should be out there. This is the best on offer, no question.

For the mornings in between, like Monday the 24th and Tuesday the 25th, you'll find some clean windows, but the swell isn't as strong or as organized. The 25th morning has a 6ft swell with glassy wind, but the period is a short 7 seconds, so it won't have the same grunt. It's still a good option if you miss the big days.

The afternoons are almost all a write-off through the whole period, with strong cross-onshore winds ruining the shape. This is a break that demands a morning session, pure and simple.

So, to wrap it up: The early week is a waiting game. The standout is the glassy morning of Tuesday the 18th for a solid, clean session. The absolute best of the lot, though, is the morning of Sunday the 23rd, and the big, powerful mornings of the 26th and 27th for the experts. Get on it.

Rusty.

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