Honkeys Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right, let’s have a look at what’s cooking for Honkeys (reef) over the next couple of weeks.

To be straight with you, the next few days are a bit of a write-off. The surf is small and the wind is messy. We’re looking at a real tough stretch from Thursday 23rd July right through until the end of the month. The swell is weak, mostly cross-onshore, and the wave energy is all over the shop – mostly in the moderate range (327 to 1101), but the quality is just not there. It’s going to be choppy and bumpy, with a lot of wind pushing against the waves. Not the kind of day you’d paddle out for unless you’re desperate.

The first real glimmer of hope comes on Monday morning, 3rd August. The swell picks up a bit, with a solid SSE groundswell pushing 5ft at 17 seconds from the south-southwest. That’s a long period, meaning real energy in the water. The combined energy jumps to 1565, which is strong. The wind is onshore from the WSW, though, so it’s not going to be perfect. It’ll be bumpy, but the size and period mean there’ll be some waves to work with. This is the best on offer in the whole window – a real standout, but it’s over a week away, so keep an eye on the forecasts.

Before that, there’s a bit of a tease on the 26th-27th of July. Sunday morning 26th sees 5ft SE swell with a 12-second period, and the energy is solid (842), but it’s cross-onshore again. Still, if you’re desperate for a paddle, it might be the least bad of the bunch. But honestly, I’d wait for the 3rd of August.

After that Monday peak, the wind stays messy and the swell drops back. The second week of August looks poor – small, choppy, and mostly onshore. Nothing to write home about.

So, the standout is Monday 3rd August. That 5ft SSW groundswell, with a 17-second period, is the only real window of opportunity. The wind is not ideal, but it’s the best we’ve got. For a beginner, 5ft is getting a bit much, but for an intermediate, it’s workable. The reef will handle the long period well, but the onshore wind will mess up the surface. It’s a shame, because the swell itself is decent.

In summary: a long, flat, windy stretch now, then a single promising day on Monday 3rd August. After that, back to the doldrums. Keep your hopes in check, but don’t write it off completely.

Rusty.

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