Number Threes Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right, let’s have a proper look at what Number Threes (reef) has cooking over the next couple of weeks. It’s a consistent spot, advanced only, and it’s exposed to the swell – so when it’s on, it’s on. Water temp’s sitting around 80°, which is pretty much bang on average for this time of year, so no nasty surprises there.

The first few days ain’t worth paddling out for. Tuesday the 21st through to Thursday the 24th are a write-off – weak swell, messy conditions, and that cross-off wind stays stubborn. The combined wave energy’s barely getting going (around 537 to 1004), and the swell’s either too small or coming from the wrong direction. Honestly, it’s a frustrating start.

Then Friday the 24th afternoon things start to change. The swell jumps to 6 ft from the ENE, but with a short period of only 7 seconds – it’s a bit junky. The following Saturday morning the 25th sees similar, 7 ft from the ENE, period still short (8 secs). The energy’s building though, hitting 1146, but the wind’s still cross-off and fresh. It’s trying, but not clean enough to get excited about.

Sunday the 26th and Monday the 27th keep the swell going, 4 ft to 6 ft from the E and ENE, periods between 14 and 16 seconds – that’s proper groundswell. But again, that persistent cross-off wind, moderate to fresh, is just stopping it from being special. The energy’s high, 1294 to 1554, so there’s plenty of push, but the quality’s lacking.

Now, Tuesday morning the 28th – that’s your standout. The swell’s a solid 6 ft from the E with a period of 13 seconds, and the wind drops right back to a light breeze out of the NE, keeping it cross-off and clean. The combined energy is a meaty 1281 – strong, powerful. This is the best on offer. The conditions are excellent for experienced surfers, and with the reef setup, those longer-period waves will line up nicely. It’s a genuine window of quality.

Wednesday the 29th holds similar size but the wind picks back up to moderate breeze, so it’s a step down. Thursday the 30th sees the swell fading to 5 ft with a shorter period, energy dropping to 696.

After that, things go quiet again from Friday the 31st through the first few days of August – small, weak SSW swell, energy under 200, just not worth it. Then from Saturday the 1st of August through Monday the 3rd, the swell pumps back up to 7 ft to 10 ft, but it’s all short-period ENE windswell (7 to 9 seconds) with strong breezes. For the advanced crew, that’s going to be wild and bumpy – maybe more fun for kite surfing than paddle surfing. Energy’s strong, 803 to 1179, but it’s raw.

The last few days, Tuesday the 4th and Wednesday the 5th, fade back down to 4 ft to 5 ft, with lighter winds but poor quality. Nothing to rush for.

So if you’re keen, get on Tuesday morning the 28th of July. That’s the session. Clean, punchy, and proper reef waves.

Rusty.

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