Inchydoney Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s happening around Inchydoney. I’ve got to be straight with you – the next couple of weeks are looking pretty quiet for the most part. We’re going to see a long stretch of nothing much at all, so don’t be rushing to grab your board just yet.

The forecast kicks off with a blank run. From Thursday, 23 July right through to the end of July, we’ve got virtually no surf to speak of. Swell heights are tiny, mostly 0.7 ft, wind is a mess, and the energy is weak. The combined energy readings are way down in the teens and twenties (22, 21, 18). It’s a real bummer, but it happens. The water temperature is sitting at 66°F, which is a massive 5°F warmer than normal for this time of year – that’s a real standout, the water feels like a bathtub, very unusual.

We finally get a pulse of life on the morning of Saturday, 1 August. The swell picks up to 6 ft from the SW, with a period of 6 seconds. The wind is a clean cross-offshore from the NW, and the combined energy jumps to 231 (moderate). The wave comment says "poor surf conditions" but the wind state is "clean" so it’s a bit of a mixed bag. The afternoon stays similar at 5 ft, 285 energy. This is the best on offer across the whole period – a true standout, but it’s a bit raw and short-period, so shape won’t be perfect. It’s a solid option for the more experienced crew; 6 ft is a bit much for beginners.

After that, we slide back into mediocrity. Sunday, 2 August drops to 3 ft with cross-shore winds, and the energy falls off a cliff (73). The rest of the week into early August is a graveyard of tiny, wind-affected dribble. The swell direction is all over the place, and the wind is mostly onshore or cross-on.

There is a final flash on Thursday, 6 August. The morning shows 6 ft from the SE, period of 7 seconds, with a clean cross-off wind from the ENE. The combined energy hits 394 (moderate), and the wave comment finally says "surfable waves but very ordinary conditions". That’s the best we get after the 1st. The afternoon gets messy with onshore wind, so if you’re paddling out, make it a dawn mission. 6 ft is again more for the intermediate to expert surfer.

The surf break at Inchydoney is a river mouth, sheltered and inconsistent. It rarely fires, so a blank run like this is more normal for the area. Don’t lose hope – forecasts can change, and it tends not to stay this quiet forever.

Rusty

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