Friendly Beaches Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here with a look at the next couple of weeks for Friendly Beaches. It’s a bit of a mixed bag, so let’s get into it.

We’re starting off with a few days of small, clean waves. Thursday the 23rd of July, we’ve got waist-high swell from the south, around 2 feet, with a long period of 14 seconds. The wind is offshore from the west, which is a real treat and will keep the surface glassy. The water temp is sitting at 57°, which is a touch warmer than what we usually expect for this time of year, so that’s a nice bonus. The energy is moderate (152), so it’s not a powerhouse, but it’s a fun little paddle out for the advanced crew who know this spot. It’s inconsistent here, so you’ll be waiting for sets, but the quality will be there.

Saturday the 25th of July sees a bit more size, with the swell pushing to 6 feet from the south on Saturday morning, and the energy jumps up to 779 (moderate). The period drops to 11 seconds, but the wind stays clean and cross-offshore. Saturday afternoon cleans up even more, still solid chest-high waves. This is looking like the best of the early run.

Sunday the 26th and Monday the 27th of July, the swell backs off significantly, dropping to under 3 feet. The energy gets weak (98 and 78), and the wind stays cross-off, so it’s clean but small. You’ll be scratching for a ride.

Now, here’s a proper standout. Tuesday the 28th of July. We’ve got a pulse of north swell coming in, hitting 7 feet in the morning with a short period (7 seconds). The energy is strong (532). The wind is light from the NNW, giving us clean conditions. The morning session is the call here; expect very good surf. The afternoon gets a bit lumpy with a cross-shore wind and the swell jumps to 8 feet, which is getting big, but still manageable for the experienced surfer.

Wednesday the 29th of July, the swell drops right off. It’s a write-off in the morning, and by the afternoon, a fresh southerly wind kicks up a massive 13 foot swell from the south. The energy is extreme (2474), but this is way too big for Friendly Beaches. It’s an expert-only zone, and even then, it’s likely a washing machine. The setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing.

Thursday the 30th of July is huge again, 12 feet from the south, with a very strong energy reading of 4513. The wind is onshore and lumpy. This is a skip day for the average surfer.

From Friday the 31st of July onward, it’s a long, quiet stretch. The swell drops to knee-high or smaller, and the energy is weak. There are a few mornings with glassy conditions (like Monday the 3rd of August and Wednesday the 5th of August), but with waves only 1 to 2 feet, there’s just nothing to ride. The wind is often onshore or cross-shore, making it even less appealing. You’re looking at a solid 8-day gap with no real surf on offer. It’s a frustrating blank run, but it happens here.

So, to sum it up: your best bet is the Tuesday morning, July 28th, for a solid, clean north swell. The Saturday, July 25th, is also a good, cleaner option. After that, it’s a long wait for the next pulse.

Rusty.

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