Happys Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, I’m Rusty, and I’ve been staring at this stretch of coast for a long time. Let’s get into it.

Alright, the honest truth is, this outlook is a tough one. We’re looking at the next 16 days, and for the most part, the surf is going to be frustratingly small and messy. The one spot in the mix is Happys, a point break that’s fairly consistent, but even then, the conditions are going to fight you almost every step of the way. The good news is that we’ve got some glassy windows here and there, so don’t write the whole period off.

We kick off on Thursday, July 23rd morning with a bit of hope. The swell is coming from the east at 4 ft, with a period of 8 seconds, and the combined energy is moderate at 207. The water temperature is 68°, which is a bit colder than normal for this time of year, so maybe grab a hood. The wind is a light cross-offshore from the SSW at 3 mph, and the waves are clean. It’s not pumping, but it’s surfable. That afternoon, however, the wind swings onshore from the east at 3 mph, and the surf goes to junk.

Then we hit a dry spell. From Friday, July 24th all the way through to Wednesday, July 30th morning, the conditions are poor. We see a mix of cross-shore and cross-onshore winds, with speeds picking up to 12-19 mph, and the swell is either too small or too weak. The energy drops into the low hundreds or even the double digits. There’s a window on Wednesday, July 29th morning where it goes totally glassy, with no wind, and the swell is 3 ft from the ENE, but it’s so weak with only 66 energy that it’s barely worth paddling out.

The first real standout happens on Thursday, July 30th morning. The wind is a fresh cross-offshore from the WSW at 19 mph, which sounds strong, but it’s blowing straight off the land, keeping the surface clean. The swell is tiny at 1.0 ft, but it’s a long-period groundswell coming from the ESE with a period of 14 seconds. The energy is 85, so it’s weak, but that long period means the waves will have shape and push. This is a point break, so it’s going to line up and hold that energy better than a beach. It’s a gear-down session, but if you’re patient, you’ll get a couple of long, clean runners.

The next notable moment is on Friday, July 31st afternoon. The wind is offshore from the west at 12 mph, and the swell jumps to 6 ft from the SE with a short period of 6 seconds. The energy is strong at 305. That’s a lot of water moving, but that short period means it’ll be a bit fat and bumpy. Still, offshore wind on a point is a gift, and at 6 ft, it’s pushing into intermediate territory. It’s not beginner-friendly, but for the experienced crew, it’s the best offer of the week.

Saturday, August 1st afternoon is another glassy moment. The wind drops to zero, and the swell is 5 ft from the SE with a 6-second period. The energy is 188. It’s a bit ordinary, but glassy conditions on a point break can make anything feel fun.

Then we have another gap. From Sunday, August 2nd through to Tuesday, August 4th, the conditions are poor again, with onshore winds and short-period, weak swell.

The final stretch shows a glimmer. On Wednesday, August 5th morning, the wind is glassy from the WNW at 3 mph, and the swell is 4 ft from the SE with a 9-second period. The energy is 199. It’s surfable, and the glassy surface will make it look better than it is. The afternoon stays glassy with light rain, which is a rare treat.

Looking at the entire 16-day run, the absolute best on offer is Thursday, July 30th morning for the clean, long-period groundswell, and Friday, July 31st afternoon for the offshore wind and bigger swell. If you only have one session, make it the 31st at Happys. The crowds are listed as “often”, so expect company, but with that offshore wind, it’ll be worth sharing.

Rusty.

Read more