Kaolins Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right, mate, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the cards for the Kaolin area over the next few weeks.

To be straight with you, the outlook is a bit of a tough one. We’re looking at a long stretch of small, weak energy and onshore winds that’s going to keep things pretty flat and messy. The first real sniff of anything worthwhile doesn’t pop up until the second week of August, and even then, it’s nothing to write home about. The water temp is sitting at 68°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, so at least the wait won’t be a cold one.

From now through to the end of July and into the first week of August, it’s a write-off. The swell is tiny, mostly around 0.7ft to 2ft from the west, with periods of 8 to 10 seconds. The combined energy is weak, ranging from just 11 to 65, and the winds are mostly onshore or cross-onshore, shifting from the SW and WSW. The quality is poor, so don’t even bother paddling out. The exception is a few mornings with a light offshore breeze, like Saturday the 1st of August with a gentle NE offshore, but with only 1ft of swell, it’s barely a ripple.

There’s a gap of about a week and a half where there’s nothing to recommend.

Then, things get a little more interesting towards the end of the second week. On Friday, the 7th of August, the afternoon sees a jump in wave energy with a 4ft swell from the west, but the period is a short 6 seconds and the wind is a strong cross-onshore westerly at 22 mph. The combined energy hits 101, but it’s going to be lumpy and choppy. Honestly, with that wind and short period, this setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing.

The best chance of a surf comes on Sunday, the 9th of August. The afternoon has a 4ft swell from the west, an 8-second period, and a cross-offshore wind from the NNW at 19 mph. The combined energy is a solid 190, and the wind keeps it clean. The break is Kaolins, a reef setup that can handle a bit of size. The swell direction is from the west, which is not the optimum SW direction for this spot, but it’s still fairly exposed. That 4ft is a manageable size, but it’s not a standout for beginners. For the more experienced surfer, it’s the best of a quiet run. The crowds are possible here, so expect a few others with the same idea.

Monday, the 10th of August, also looks clean in the morning, with a 3ft west swell and cross-offshore NNW winds at 12 mph, but the energy drops to 80.

So, the standout for the whole period is the afternoon of Sunday, the 9th of August at Kaolins. It’s promising, but keep in mind we’re looking at the second week here, so the forecast is a little less certain than something closer. The reef will hold the swell, and the clean wind is the big draw.

Rusty.

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