Friendly Beaches Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s have a look at what’s cookin’ for Friendly Beaches over the next couple of weeks. Straight up, there’s some decent windows ahead, but we gotta sit through a bit of flat and junk first. The water’s sittin’ at a touch warmer than normal for the time of year, around 58°F, so at least it's not gonna freeze ya.

The first few days are a quiet warm-up. Wednesday arvo the 29th is a write-off – just a sloppy 1ft from the ESE, combined energy is weak at 55, and that cross-off wind ain't doin' it any favours.

Things start to look better Thursday the 30th. Morning brings a clean 6ft swell out of the south, period 9 seconds, with a solid offshore wind from the west at 12 mph. The energy jumps up to a moderate 538 – that’s some decent push. Arvo gets even better: 8ft south swell, same period, offshore winds dropping to 9 mph, and the energy cranks up to 1457. This is strong, powerful surf – but at that size, it’s really for the experienced crew only. The break is exposed to the east, and with a south swell and light offshore, it’ll be clean and punchy.

Friday the 31st eases back a bit. Morning has a clean 5ft from the SSE, period 8 seconds, light offshore winds. Energy is 248 – moderate but mellow. Good for a fun session on the smaller boards. Arvo gets a bit dicey with onshore winds, so pick the morning.

Saturday the 1st of August is a stand-out. Glassy conditions both morning and arvo, with a long-period 12-second groundswell from the southeast. Swell sits around 4 to 5ft, energy is strong at 632 and 542. That’s the kinda day you set the alarm for – clean, glassy, and plenty of power. The long period will push through nicely, though at a beach break it might bend a bit straight. Still, for the crew who know their banks, it’ll be worth it.

Sunday the 2nd holds clean, glassy conditions in the morning with a 3ft southeasterly, period 11 seconds. Energy is a lighter 282 – still fun, but backing off.

From Monday the 3rd onwards, it gets ordinary. A series of days with weak, short-period swell or tiny windswell. The combined energy drops down into the double digits – we’re talkin’ under 100 often. Winds are mixed, and the surf quality takes a dive. We go through a long stretch where there’s just not much to get excited about – from Monday the 3rd all the way until Sunday the 9th, it’s mostly small, weak, or messy.

Now, look ahead to Monday the 10th of August – this is a big one. We’ve got an 12ft swell from the NNE, period 9 seconds in the morning, stretching to 11 seconds in the arvo. The energy is massive – 3630 in the morning and a whopping 5212 in the arvo, with glassy conditions and zero wind. That is a proper pulse of power. But – and this is a big but – that’s too big for this break. The guidance is clear: it’s too big for Friendly Beaches. Only highly experienced chargers even thinkin’ about it, and even then, it’s gonna be a washing machine. Kite surfers might be having a field day, but for paddle surfing, it’s a pass unless you’re fully frothin’ and know the place inside out.

Tuesday the 11th drops back to a much more manageable 5ft from the northeast, period 10 seconds, and glassy in the morning. Energy is still a solid 564. That’s a good morning session. The arvo goes onshore and messy, so get it early.

The rest of the outlook fades out into small, weak swell with periods of clean conditions but not much push. The 12th and 13th offer a bit of clean surf but under 5ft and energy dropping away. Nothin’ worth goin’ out of your way for.

Best on offer – without a doubt – is Saturday the 1st of August. Glassy, clean, decent-size south groundswell, and plenty of energy. That’s the one to circle on the calendar.

Rusty.

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