Dumbea Rights Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here, switching to feet and miles.

We’ve only got one spot on the radar for the next couple of weeks: Dumbea Rights. The early part of the outlook is a slow burner, but there are some absolute gems in the second half of the first week that are worth getting excited about. The water is sitting at a warm 74°, which is just about average for the time of year, so no surprises there.

The first real action kicks off Wednesday afternoon, July 15th, with a small 2ft SSW swell. It’s clean, but it’s pretty marginal. The wind is a bit of a cross-off breeze, which keeps things tidy, but the energy is moderate (569). It’s a warm-up session, not a standout.

Thursday morning, July 16th, is where things get interesting. The swell jumps to a solid 5ft from the SSW, with a long period of 15 seconds. The energy is strong (1168), and a light NNE breeze is blowing cross-off, keeping the surface clean. This is top-notch for experienced surfers – the kind of morning you set your alarm for. The afternoon stays clean with a 4ft SSW swell and a light offshore wind from the NE, making for a solid afternoon session as well.

Friday, July 17th, offers a slight drop-off with 3ft and 3ft swells, but the wind is offshore from the ENE both morning and afternoon. It’s clean, walled-up, and a good option for a more relaxed session. The energy is in the moderate range (360 and 331).

Now, the standout window is Saturday morning, July 18th. It’s a glassy, still morning with a 4ft SSW groundswell running at a very long 17 seconds. The energy is powerful (1352), and the conditions are absolutely pristine. This is a reef break, and that long-period groundswell will be feeding in perfectly. It’s a session for the crew who know what they’re doing. The Saturday afternoon gets a bit of a letdown with an onshore wind, so the morning is the one.

Sunday, July 19th, is a mixed bag. The morning is messy with a cross-on wind, but the afternoon brings a clean 5ft SSW swell with a long 20-second period, and a light offshore wind from the NE. That’s a very long-period groundswell, which will be drawn out and powerful at the point. Another excellent session for experienced surfers. The energy is very strong (2189).

After that, from Monday, July 20th, through to the end of the first week, the wind turns nasty. Strong, cross-shore breezes and even a risk of thunderstorms on Monday make it a write-off. The swell builds, but the conditions are poor. Power-kiters might get a look in, but for us wave riders, it’s a no-go.

The second week starts to look a bit more promising again. After a few days of strong winds, we get a calm glass-off on Sunday morning, July 26th, with a 2ft SSW groundswell. It’s small, but it’s clean. Then Monday, July 27th, brings a return to form: a 5ft SSW swell with a very long 18-second period, light cross-off breeze, and strong energy (1677). That’s a proper session for the experienced crew. Tuesday, July 28th, sees a building 7ft SSW swell, but a cross-on wind makes it a bit lumpy. It’s an option, but not the best of the week.

The final days of the forecast, from July 29th to 30th, are plagued by strong onshore winds and building, messy swell. The wind is a problem, and the waves are too big for the conditions. It’s a good time to be on the beach, not in it.

So, the standout hands-down is Saturday morning, July 18th at Dumbea Rights. The 4ft SSW groundswell, the glassy conditions, and the long period make it the pick of the bunch. The very long period groundswell will be perfect for this reef. Expect some company, as it gets busy sometimes, but it’s worth it.

Rusty.

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