Ocean Reach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s get into it.

The ocean’s got a bit of a split personality over the next couple of weeks. We’ve got a solid run of SW swell on the cards, but for a lot of the time, the wind is going to be the spoiler. The first few days are the pick, then it gets messy and blown out for a stretch, before things clean up again in the back half. There’s a real window of opportunity early on, so don’t sleep on it.

We’re looking at Ocean Reach (Ocean-Reach) for this whole period. It’s a beach and reef set-up, fairly exposed to the SW, and it takes a bit of size to get going. The water temp is pretty much average for this time of year, so nothing wild there.

Friday (August 7th) is where you want to be. The morning is a bit iffy with a cross-shore breeze, but the afternoon is the standout. The wind drops right out to glass, and the swell is a clean 5ft from the SW with a long 15-second period. The combined energy is pumping at 1054, and it’s going to be clean, lined-up, and just perfect. This is the one to get.

Saturday (August 8th) is still rideable. The swell holds at 4ft, but the wind swings around to the north and picks up to 12 mph, making it a bit lumpy. It’s not a write-off, but it’s not the crystal-clear conditions we had the day before.

Sunday (August 9th) is where it starts to fall apart. The swell drops a touch, but the wind howls offshore at 22 mph. The surf will be blown-out and messy, even if the wind is technically offshore. Not worth the hassle.

Monday (August 10th) is a full-blown mess. The swell jumps up to 8ft, but it’s accompanied by a near-gale onshore wind. The energy is huge at 5819, but it’s going to be a complete washing machine. This is kite-surfing territory, not paddle surfing. The conditions are just too raw.

Tuesday (August 11th) the wind swings back offshore but it's still strong at 25 mph. The swell drops back to 5ft, but the strong wind will keep it rough and hard to manage. It's a pass.

Wednesday (August 12th) the swell is up again at 6ft, but the wind is howling onshore by the afternoon. The morning is lumpy and cross-shore, and by the arvo it's near-gale and blown out. Another day to give a miss.

Thursday (August 13th) and Friday (August 14th) are no good either. The swell is up to 10ft on Thursday, which is getting big, and the wind is onshore the whole time. This is a lot of water moving around, and with the cross-onshore wind, it’s going to be a close-out mess. Definitely expert-only if you even consider it, and even then, it looks grim.

Saturday (August 15th) is still a bit marginal. The swell eases to 6ft, but it’s still cross-onshore and choppy. There are waves, but they aren't going to be pretty.

Then we get a nice reset.

Sunday (August 16th) is looking much better. The wind goes light offshore from the ENE early, and the swell is a clean 4ft from the SW. It’s a completely different story. The morning is the go, with clean lines and proper conditions. This is a solid shout for a good surf.

Monday (August 17th) and Tuesday (August 18th) mornings are also good. The wind is light offshore or cross-off, and the swell holds around 4ft. It’s smaller, but it’s clean and fun. These are good, mellow days.

Wednesday (August 19th) is another good one. The morning has a light cross-offshore breeze and the swell builds a fraction to 4ft. It’s clean and should have some fun little runners.

The following Thursday (August 20th) and Friday (August 21st) see the wind pick up again, messing up the conditions. The swell builds to 6ft on Friday, but onshore winds wreck it again.

Saturday (August 22nd) looks like a fitting end to the period. The wind drops right out, going light offshore, and the swell is a small but clean 3ft. It’s not big, but it’ll be glassy and fun if you've got a log.

So, bottom line: the two morning windows on Sunday August 16th and Monday August 17th are the best of the bunch after the opening day. The Friday afternoon session on August 7th is the standout, though. It’s got everything – clean conditions, a decent sized SW swell, and a long period. Get on it early.

Rusty

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