Freshwater Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here, and I’ve got to be straight with you – this 16-day window for Freshwater Bay looks like a total write-off. There’s just no surf worth paddling out for. The whole forecast is made up of “poor surf conditions” from start to finish, with scores that never get off the floor. Not a single session gets a recommendation, so if you’re hanging for a wave, you’re out of luck for a good stretch. The first record kicks off on Saturday morning, the 1st of August, and it’s already a dud, and from there it’s a flat, choppy, or messy run all the way through to Sunday morning, the 16th of August. That’s a solid 16-day gap with nothing to offer.

The water temperature is about average for the time of year, nothing weird going on there. The winds are a real mixed bag – some mornings start glassy or with light offshore vibes, like the NNE breeze at 3 mph on Friday morning, the 7th, which gives a glassy surface, but the swell is barely a ripple at 1 ft with a weak 6-second period. The combined energy is tiny, around 17 (weak), so there’s no push. Other days get hammered by strong onshore or cross-shore winds, like the SW wind at 25 mph on the 16th, making it lumpy and messy. The swell rarely gets above 2 ft, with a few exceptions: Wednesday afternoon, the 5th, sees 4 ft from the WSW, but the period is a pathetic 5 seconds, the wind is a fresh cross-onshore at 19 mph, and the energy is only 83 (weak). That’s more of a windblown mess than a surfable wave. Thursday morning, the 6th, has 3 ft from the WSW with a 7-second period and a clean cross-off wind, but the energy is still just 99 (weak), and the wave comment is still a big fat “poor”. It’s frustrating because the setup looks like it could be fun for kite surfing on those windier days, but for paddle surfing, there’s just nothing.

Freshwater Bay is a reef and point break, exposed to the SW swell, and it’s fairly consistent, but when the swell is this small and the wind is all over the shop, it’s a bust. The optimum swell direction is SW, but the few pulses that come in from the WSW are too short-period and weak to do anything. The crowds are “sometimes” an issue, but that’s not relevant when there’s no waves. Honestly, this is one of those blank runs where the area just isn’t firing. The forecasts can change, but for now, leave the board at home. This is Rusty, signing off.

Read more