Inch Reefs Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s have a look at what’s on offer.

Honestly, I gotta be straight with you – the next 16 days are looking pretty grim for a proper paddle. We’ve got a long stretch of flat or near-flat conditions starting now, and it’s not until the 28th of July that we see any real size, and even then, the quality is a mess.

The first real bump of swell arrives on Tuesday the 28th of July, with a 5ft swell from the west pushing in. The period is a short, weak 9 seconds, and the combined energy is moderate at 344. The problem is the wind is cross-onshore from the south at 9 mph, so it’s going to be choppy and messy. That afternoon, the swell drops to 4ft with an even shorter 8-second period, and the wind goes onshore from the southwest. Not the kind of day you’d paddle out for.

The 29th of July is more of the same – onshore winds and short-period swell in the 4ft range. The energy is still moderate (194), but conditions are just ordinary.

Finally, on the 30th of July, we get a bit of a break. The morning sees a clean 3ft swell from the west, with a light cross-offshore breeze from the north-northwest at 3 mph. The period is a short 7 seconds, and the energy is weak at 99. It’s surfable, but it’s not going to get your heart racing. That afternoon and the next day, it drops back to near-flat.

The first week of August is a similar story: small, weak swells in the 1ft to 2ft range, mostly with clean winds but tiny waves. The 3rd of August morning has a glassy 1ft south-west swell, but it’s barely a ripple.

The only real standout – and I’m using that term loosely – is Saturday the 8th of August. We get a 4ft west swell with a 9-second period. The combined energy is moderate at 201. The morning is a bit cross-shore, but the afternoon cleans up with a nice cross-offshore breeze from the north-northwest at 9 mph. It’s the best window in the whole forecast, but it’s still only a marginal, ordinary day. The swell direction is west, right in the sweet spot for Inch Reefs.

Inch Reefs is a point break that’s exposed to south-west swells, so the west swell on the 8th is a decent match. It’s a fairly consistent spot, but it’s an advanced break, so only for the experienced crew. The crowds can be there sometimes, so keep your eyes peeled. The water temperature is sitting at 63°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year.

Bottom line: if you’ve got a kite, the 28th through 30th of July might be more interesting than a paddle. The waves are there, but the quality is poor. The 8th of August is your best bet for a paddle, but it’s not a day to get too excited about. It’s a long, quiet run for the most part.

- Rusty

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