Fernald Point Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G'day, this is Rusty. Let's have a look at what's on offer for the next couple of weeks.

Alright, straight up, this is a tough stretch. The only spot that's even in the mix is Fernald Point, a point break that's a beginner wave, but it's one of those spots that *rarely breaks*. So we're already hoping for a lot. The water's a balmy 68°, and that's a solid 5° warmer than usual, so it's a lot warmer than you'd expect for this time of year – a real bonus for a long session in the wetsuit.

The real issue is the wind. It's almost always cross-onshore or onshore, which is never good. The wave heights are tiny, mostly around 2 ft, with a few pulses of 3 ft, and the swell is coming from the SSW. While the period is often long (14-16 seconds), which would normally mean some nice energy, the constant cross-onshore wind just messes it up, making it choppy and bumpy. The combined energy is moderate, sitting between 200 and 500, but it's all for nothing with the wind.

We kick off on Monday the 20th of July with a 2 ft SSW swell, but the wind is cross-on and it's labelled as poor surf. Tuesday the 21st and Wednesday the 22nd are the same story – poor surf, tiny swell, and a cross-onshore breeze. Thursday the 23rd barely improves.

The first flicker of something resembling a session comes on Friday the 24th of July. The swell is still tiny at 3 ft from the SSW, and the wind is light cross-onshore, but it's still a "marginal" call. Honestly, not a day to get excited about.

Saturday the 25th of July sees a drop in height to 1 ft, even though the period jumps to 21 seconds – that's a very long period groundswell. For a point break like Fernald Point, that long period can mean nice, clean lines, but the cross-onshore wind and the tiny size make it a washout. Same for Sunday the 26th.

The middle of the week, from Monday the 27th to Thursday the 30th of July, is a continuous run of "marginal" forecasts. The swell stays around 2 ft to 2 ft, and while the wind is light, it's never offshore. It's a classic case of not quite enough of anything to make it worthwhile.

We roll into the end of the first week and into August. Friday the 31st of July brings a slight increase to 4 ft from the S, but it's still cross-onshore and choppy. Saturday the 1st of August has the biggest swell of the whole period at 4 ft from the S, with a combined energy of 594 – the strongest we'll see. But again, the wind is cross-onshore. It's a "poor surf conditions" call. For a beginner break, 4 ft is okay, but with that wind, it's a messy, frustrating paddle.

By Sunday the 2nd of August, the swell drops back to 3 ft, and the period shortens to 11 seconds. The energy is fading. The final few days, Monday the 3rd and Tuesday the 4th of August, are just more of the same – tiny, poor, cross-onshore junk.

So, what's the standout? There isn't one. Honestly, there's nothing worth chasing here. The best bet, if you're absolutely desperate, is Saturday the 1st of August. The swell is the biggest at 4 ft from the south, and the combined energy is the highest (594). But it's still a "poor" call with cross-onshore wind. Big crowds are likely at this spot, and with the conditions being what they are, it's a gamble you'll probably lose. For a rare spot like this, you need the stars to align, and they just don't.

If you're looking for something to blow the cobwebs off, this isn't it. The forecast might change, but for now, it's a long, flat, and blown-out run.

This is Rusty, signing off.

Read more