Freshwater and Harbord Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. Look, I’ve gotta be straight with you – the next couple of weeks for the Freshwater and Harbord stretch are looking pretty grim. We’ve got a real flat spell on our hands for the bulk of the forecast period. The only break we’re really looking at is Freshwater itself, which is sheltered and picks up a bit of ENE swell, but even that’s not giving us much to work with. The water temp is sitting about average for this time of year at 64°F, so no surprises there.

We start off on Thursday the 23rd of July morning with a bit of life. There’s a small 0.9m (3ft) swell from the ENE at 9 seconds, giving us weak to moderate energy (119). The wind’s a cross-off at 9 mph, and it’s clean. It’s surfable, but honestly, it’s very ordinary. The afternoon goes downhill fast with 16 mph cross-shore winds and a chop that’ll have you fighting the board more than the wave.

From there, it’s a long, sad stretch. Friday the 24th, Saturday the 25th, Sunday the 26th, Monday the 27th – all through to the end of the month, the waves just drop off. We’re talking ankle-snappers at best: 0.5m (2ft), then 0.4m (1ft), then 0.2m (0.7ft). The combined energy barely gets out of single digits. There’s a brief moment of glassy conditions on Saturday afternoon with 0.2m (0.7ft) and a 3 mph NNW wind, but that’s about as exciting as watching paint dry.

We hit a full blank from the 30th of July through to the 31st of July – nothing, zero energy. Then things get interesting, but not in a good way. On the 31st of July afternoon, a big southerly change rolls in. We get a 2.5m (8ft) SSE swell at 11 seconds, and the combined energy spikes to a powerful 1628. That’s a big, powerful groundswell. Problem is, it’s coming with 22 mph cross-shore winds and heavy rain. That’s not paddle surfing weather; that’s kite surfing weather, and even then it’d be messy.

That big pulse sticks around into the start of August. Saturday the 1st of August has a 2.0m (7ft) SSE swell at 10 seconds (724 energy) but it’s cross-shore with a chop. Saturday afternoon drops to 1.8m (6ft) (556) and is only marginal. Sunday the 2nd is 1.3m (4ft) (226) and still cross-shore. These are all blown-out, lumpy. For beginners, anything over 1.5m (5ft) gets sketchy, and seeing 2.0m to 2.5m (7ft to 8ft) with onshore wind is expert-only territory, and even they’d be frustrated.

The real one to keep an eye on is August the 4th, Tuesday morning. We get a 0.8m (3ft) SE swell at 10 seconds (122 energy) with glassy conditions – just a 3 mph wind out of the SW. That’s clean, and the 10-second period will give you some reasonable shape. It’s still small, but if you’re desperate, that’s your best shot in the whole window. The crowds at Freshwater are often around, so expect company.

After that, it fades again. The 7th of August Friday morning has a 1.2m (4ft) ESE swell at 10 seconds (339), and the wind is a clean cross-off from the SW. That’s the other standout – bigger but still manageable, and the energy is solid moderate. It’s a good option if you can get on it before the wind swings onshore in the afternoon.

Overall, it’s a tough run. A blank stretch from late July into August is more normal for this area when the swell windows don’t line up. It tends not to stay this poor forever, but for now, you’re picking through scraps. Stay positive, check the 4th and 7th of August, and maybe give the kites a go on the 31st if that’s your thing.

Rusty.

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