Raffs Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, grab your board let's see what's on offer for the coming weeks.

Right off the bat, we’ve got a bit of a shake-up at Raffs Beach. It’s a solid beginner spot, fairly consistent, and it gets a nice SSW swell direction which is right in its sweet spot. Water temp is sitting at about 55°, which is pretty much bang on average for this time of year, so don't expect any surprises there.

The first couple of days are a write-off, to be honest. Wednesday the 22nd is a total mess with cross-shore winds and a messy cross-chop. The swell is a weak 5ft SW and the combined energy is a measly (792). Not worth your time. Thursday the 23rd and Friday the 24th are actually looking at some massive swell – we’re talking 12ft to 13ft SW groundswell with a period of 14-15 seconds and combined energy readings that are off the charts (8322 and 11413). That’s way too big for a beginner spot like this, so only for the absolute experts, and even then, it’s a beast. The winds are cross-off though, so it’ll be clean, just colossal.

The swell drops back down to a more manageable 6ft to 7ft on Sunday the 26th and Monday the 27th, but the energy is still moderate (around 754-952) and the conditions are only marginal. It’s a bit of a lull.

Now, here’s the standout. Tuesday, July 28th, morning. The swell is 8ft SW but the period is a very long 15 seconds, bringing in proper groundswell energy. Combined energy is a solid (2993). The wind is a gentle cross-off from the NNW, giving us clean faces. This is a serious session for experienced surfers. This is the best on offer in the near term.

After that, it gets pretty messy again. Wednesday the 29th and Thursday the 30th are blown out by onshore winds. Then we hit a sweet little pocket at the end of the month. Friday, July 31st, morning is pure magic. Glassy conditions with no wind, a small but clean 4ft SW swell. The energy is light (390), but for a beginner wave, it'll be perfect. Then Saturday, August 1st, morning is another cracker: offshore wind from the north, with a 3ft SW swell that has a very long period of 17 seconds, giving it a combined energy of (816). That’s a very clean, long-period groundswell. It’s a great option for the more experienced, as the long period will make it a bit more challenging at a beach break, but the conditions are pristine.

The first week of August is a total loss. From Sunday the 2nd afternoon through to the 6th, it’s all onshore winds, strong breeze, and rain. The swell is all over the place, but the wind is just terrible. It’s a total write-off for paddle surfing. That strong S-SE wind and decent swell (7ft+) actually looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing.

So, to wrap it up: The real highlight is Tuesday, July 28th morning for the experienced crew, and Friday, July 31st morning and Saturday, August 1st morning for a cleaner, more manageable session. The rest is either too big, too windy, or just plain flat. Don't get your hopes up for the second week – it's a long stretch of bad conditions.

Rusty.

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