Flynns Reef Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. Look, I’ll be straight with you – the next 16 days are a test of patience for anyone wanting to paddle out at Flynns Reef. This is a top-shelf, advanced-level reef break, but we’ve got a whole lot of wind and not nearly enough clean windows. The first proper surf worth talking about doesn’t show up until Monday, August 3rd, so that’s a solid gap of nearly a week from the start of the forecast of nothing but blown-out, choppy mess.

The long-range outlook does offer a couple of glimmers, but they’re a way off and not set in stone. The real standout of the whole period is set for Tuesday, August 4th. We’ve got a clean 4ft SW swell, period 12 seconds, with gentle offshore wind from the east. The water’s sitting at 56°F, which is pretty much bang on average for this time of year – no surprises there. The wave energy is moderate (374). That’s a session where the reef will be working, and you’ll get some proper lines. The winds are offshore, so it’ll be clean. Just be aware this spot is fairly exposed, and crowds are often here, so get in early.

The next little window is Wednesday, August 5th. Morning sees a 3ft SW swell, period 14 seconds, with light cross-offshore wind. The energy is still moderate (513). It’s a bit smaller, but it’s clean. By the afternoon, it goes glassy – dead calm – and the swell hangs in at 3ft with a long 14-second period. That’s a rare treat for a reef break, as the long period will have the waves wrapping in nicely. The energy is still moderate (562). Expect crowds then too.

Now, as we push into the second week, there’s a promising but more uncertain highlight on Tuesday, August 11th. The afternoon shows a 4ft SW swell, period 13 seconds, with light cross-offshore wind and clean conditions. The energy is moderate (452). That’s a solid chance if the forecast holds.

A word of caution: on Wednesday, August 12th, we see a jump in size – 8ft to 10ft SW swells from the afternoon, with periods around 13-14 seconds. The energy is strong (2449 to 4053). But the wind is a fresh cross-shore, making it lumpy. That size is for experts only, and the lumpy conditions will make it a real battle. Might be more interesting for kite surfers than paddle surfing on that day.

For the rest of the days, it’s either too windy, too small, or the conditions are just poor. The period from July 28th through to August 2nd is a write-off – near gale-force winds, rain, and messy, blown-out surf. Don’t bother. After the 5th, we get a few days of small, choppy or cross-shore junk until the 11th.

So, if you’re keen, mark your calendar for Tuesday, August 4th – that’s the pick of the bunch. The Wednesday the 5th is a close second for the glassy afternoon session. The rest is a waiting game.

Rusty.

Read more