Freshwater and Harbord Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s have a look at what’s on offer for the next couple of weeks.

We’re starting off with a bit of a mixed bag at Freshwater. The water temperature is sitting at 63°F, which is just a touch cooler than average for this time of year – nothing crazy, but you’ll want a decent spring suit if you’re spending a session out there.

Saturday 1st August kicks things off with a light 5ft SSE swell coming in from the east, but it’s a cross-on breeze and pretty weak energy levels (413). The waves are a bit messy and the tide might not be playing ball – it’s a marginal one. Not the best way to start the weekend.

Sunday 2nd August morning is where it starts to look a little more interesting. The swell bumps up slightly to 5ft, still from the SSE, but the period jumps to 13 seconds – that’s proper groundswell energy. The wind is light and cross-offshore from the NNW, so the surface should be clean. Wave energy is moderate (999). This is the standout window across the whole 16 days – it’s not huge, but it’s nicely shaped, and the offshore wind will keep it glassy. Crowds are often an issue at Freshwater, but if you’re keen, this is the time to get in.

Monday 3rd August morning has a cleaner look with a gentle offshore from the WNW, but the swell has dropped to 3ft and energy is weak (244). Afternoon is even smaller at 3ft. It’s surfable but nothing special.

From Tuesday 4th August right through to Saturday 8th August, it’s a real flat spell. Swell heights barely scrape 1ft, periods are all over the place, and energy levels are mostly in the single digits or low double digits. There’s a tiny pulse on Saturday afternoon (4ft, SSE, 8 seconds) but the cross-on wind and chop will make it difficult to enjoy. This stretch is about 5 days of barely rideable waves.

Sunday 9th August afternoon offers a small window of hope – 4ft SE swell with a 10-second period and a clean offshore from the NNW. Energy is moderate (261). It’s ordinary, but it’s rideable.

Monday 10th August morning sees a bump in wind (30 km/h from the WSW) and a weak 4ft NE swell with a tiny 5-second period – that’s more like a wind chop than a proper swell. Not worth paddling out for.

The rest of the second week is very quiet. From Tuesday 11th August through to Sunday 16th August, the swell is consistently below 3ft, with periods often under 10 seconds and energy levels mostly under 200. The wind is often offshore or cross-offshore, which keeps the surface clean, but there’s just not enough swell to make it worthwhile. The best of this period is probably Thursday 13th August morning with a 4ft E swell and a 12-second period, but the wind is a fresh 30 km/h from the WSW, creating a cross-off mess. Not the kind of day you’d rush to the beach for.

Overall, the only real standout is Sunday 2nd August morning. It’s not a huge swell, but the combination of clean conditions, decent energy, and a proper groundswell period makes it the pick of the bunch. The rest of the forecast is mostly flat or disappointing. If you’re patient, you might get a few fun ones on the 9th afternoon, but don’t plan your week around it.

Rusty.

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