Freshwater West Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right then, let’s have a look at what’s coming up for the next couple of weeks.

Honestly, it’s a tough stretch. We’re looking at a real flat spell for the first week, with barely a ripple on offer. The water temp is sitting pretty average for this time of year, nothing unusual there. The first real sign of life doesn’t show up until the morning of Sunday the 26th of July, with a small pulse of swell from the WSW. That’s a long wait of about six days with nothing worth paddling out for.

Freshwater West is the only break on the cards here. It’s a consistent, exposed beach and reef setup, and it usually works best with a W swell, which is what we’re hoping for. For the first week, from the 19th through the 25th, it’s flat. Tiny 0.3ft to 0.7ft waves with no energy to speak of. The wind is all over the place but the waves just aren’t there. It’s a write-off.

Then on the morning of Sunday the 26th of July, things finally change. The swell bumps up to 4ft from the WSW, but the period is a short, weak 6 seconds. The combined energy is moderate at 100 (moderate wave energy). The wind is a cross-onshore breeze at 19 mph, which will make it lumpy and pretty messy. The afternoon swell builds to 5ft from the same direction, with energy at 180 (still moderate), but the wind remains onshore and strong. The waves are there, but the quality is poor. This is better left for the experts, as it’s getting too big for beginners, and the conditions will be rough.

Monday the 27th drops back to 3ft in the morning, improving slightly to 2ft in the afternoon from the W. The period is still a short 8 seconds, with energy around 64-71 (weak to moderate). The wind stays cross-onshore, so it’s still choppy. Not a stand-out.

The only window that looks even remotely interesting is the afternoon of Friday the 31st of July. The swell picks up to 4ft from the W with a short period of 6 seconds, but the energy is moderate at 112. Here’s the kicker: the wind is a clean cross-offshore from the ESE at 22 mph. That will groom the faces nicely. Given the right direction, this could be a surfable option, but the short period and the fact it’s been so flat will make it a bit of a gamble. The morning of the 31st is smaller, at 2ft.

After that, the outlook drops back into the doldrums for the start of August, with small, messy waves and onshore winds.

So, if you’re desperate for a wave, the clear winner is the Friday afternoon of the 31st of July at Freshwater West. The cross-offshore wind is the best we’ll see, and the 4ft swell from the W gives it a chance. It’s not a classic, but it’s the only real window of opportunity. The Sunday morning of the 26th is a distant second, but it’s messy and lumpy.

Rusty.

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