Friendly Beaches Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what's on the menu for Friendly Beaches over the next couple of weeks.

First up, the water temp is sitting about average for this time of year, so nothing wild there for the wetsuit decision. To be honest, the start of this period is a bit of a slow burner. We've got a small window from Thursday afternoon, the 13th of August, through to Saturday morning, the 15th, where things start to look a little more promising. The standout in that first stretch is definitely Saturday morning, the 15th of August. The swell is a clean 2ft from the south, with a very long period of 16 seconds – that's proper groundswell energy. The wind will be glassy, absolutely dead calm, making for some of the cleanest, most user-friendly conditions you'll find. The combined energy is moderate (401), so there's enough push to have fun. Keep in mind that long period groundswell can break a bit straight on the beach, but with these conditions, it's going to be worth the paddle out.

After that, we hit a bit of a lull. From Sunday the 16th through to Thursday the 21st, the surf is either small, onshore, or just plain messy. There's a mix of weak swells and cross-onshore winds, so you're better off waiting for the next real window.

The real action, and the one to circle on the calendar, is Sunday, the 23rd of August. The swell is a solid 5ft from the northeast, with a period of 11 seconds, offering up some real grunt. The combined energy is strong (592). The wind is a light cross-off from the southwest, keeping the surface clean. This is a serious option for the experienced crew, as it's got some size and power. The following morning, Monday the 24th, looks like it will be blown out, so don't sleep on that Sunday.

Looking further out, there's another promising window right at the end of the forecast. Wednesday morning, the 26th of August, is showing a 8ft southerly swell with a short period of 8 seconds. That's a lot of water moving around, and the combined energy is very strong (730). The wind is glassy, absolutely dead calm. This is a big swell, definitely for experts only, as it's over 8ft. The short period means it could be a bit lumpy, but with absolutely no wind, it could be a wild, challenging session for the brave.

So, to sum it up: the best bet is Saturday morning, the 15th for clean, small waves, and the big one to plan for is Sunday, the 23rd of August. That long-range Wednesday the 26th window is a big opportunity, but it's a long way out, so treat it as promising but not set in stone yet.

Rusty.

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