Mavericks Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s coming up for our next little stretch. Things are looking pretty quiet for a while, so don’t get your hopes up just yet.

To be honest, the first week and a half is a bit of a write-off. We’re looking at a long gap of really poor surf conditions starting now and stretching right through to around the 24th of July. Most of that time, the swell is tiny, onshore winds are messing things up, and what little energy there is just isn’t coming together. The combined energy is weak to moderate, with values sitting between 206 and 720 – not enough to get excited about.

The only real glimmer in this whole 16-day window comes on the 28th of July, Tuesday morning. That’s your standout. Mavericks (Half Moon Bay) is showing a modest 3ft swell from the SW, with a period of 18 seconds. That’s a long-period groundswell, and while it’s not huge, the energy is finally kicking in with a combined energy of 1236 – that’s moderate to strong. The wind is light and onshore from the WNW, but it’s only a light breeze, so it should be clean enough for the experienced crew. This is a reef break for advanced surfers only, and it’s consistent and exposed to the swell. The water is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, sitting at 60°F, which is a solid 4°F warmer than average – pretty noticeable.

The 29th of July, Wednesday morning, is another one to keep an eye on. There’s a 6ft swell from the NW, but it’s short-period at just 8 seconds. That’s a weak, windswell-type wave, and with the wind onshore from the WSW, it’s going to be a bit of a mess. The combined energy is 1175, so there’s power, but it’s not going to be pretty. This one is really only for the die-hards who don’t mind a choppy, fat wave.

The 2nd of August brings another pulse, but it’s the same story – a 6ft swell from the WNW with a short 8-second period and onshore winds. It’s not going to be the day.

So, bottom line: if you’re an expert and you’ve been waiting for a clean window, the 28th of July is your best bet. The rest of the run is pretty grim. The crowd at Mavericks can be a problem, so expect it to be busy if the forecast holds. For the beginners, there’s nothing here for you – the swell is either too small and messy, or over 5ft and too much. If you’re a kiter, the 29th of July with that short-period NW swell might be more interesting than paddle surfing.

Stay patient, folks. It’ll turn around.

Rusty.

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