Raffs Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, mate, it’s Rusty here. Gotta be straight with you: the first few days are a write-off. We’ve got a massive pulse of SW groundswell rolling in right from the start, but it’s just too much juice for this spot. Wednesday the 2nd has a 7ft SW swell with a 15-second period, but the wind is cross and it’s messy. The next couple of days, Thursday the 3rd and Friday the 4th, see the swell jumping to 10ft to 15ft with a big, powerful 14-16 second period. The wave energy is absolutely pumping, but it’s way too big for a beginner-friendly break like this. The wind is cross or cross-off, so it’s not all bad, but the size is the problem. Saturday the 5th is a total loss with strong winds.

Things start to settle down on Sunday the 6th, but it’s small and the wind is onshore or cross-onshore. Not worth paddling out for. Monday the 7th is a dud – small and onshore. The water temperature is sitting around 57°F, which is about average for this time of year, so no surprises there.

Now, here’s where it gets interesting. Tuesday morning the 8th of September, the conditions suddenly turn on. The swell has dropped to a clean 4ft, but the period is a very long 18 seconds. That’s a proper groundswell. The wind is light and offshore from the NW, and the wave energy is still moderate. The report says excellent conditions for experienced surfers. This is a standout moment – a clean, lined-up swell with light offshore winds is a rare treat.

Then the swell builds again. Thursday the 10th sees a 12ft SW swell with a very long 18-second period, but it’s too big again for the break. The wind is light, but the size is just for experts only.

The real sweet spot in this forecast is Friday the 11th through to Sunday the 13th. You’ve got a solid 5ft to 6ft SW swell, with a period hanging around 14-17 seconds, so it’s powerful and clean. The wind is offshore from the N, NNE, or NNW, with light breezes or even glassy conditions in the afternoon on the 15th. The wave energy is moderate, and the reports are calling for excellent or very good conditions. This is the best window. The 5ft to 6ft range is perfect for a bit of fun, not too big for most.

If you’re looking for the absolute best, I’d point you to Friday morning the 11th. You’ve got a 6ft SW swell, 15-second period, light offshore wind from the N, and the energy is solid. It’s clean, it’s got push, and the wind is perfect. Saturday morning the 12th and Sunday morning the 13th are also excellent, with the swell a touch smaller but the wind still offshore.

Later in the forecast, Monday the 14th has a 10ft SW swell with glassy conditions, but again, that’s too big. Tuesday the 15th has a 8ft swell with glassy conditions, which is on the edge, but for the experienced crew, that afternoon session could be magic with the wind off the NE and glassy water.

The final few days of the window (Wednesday the 16th and Thursday the 17th) see the wind turning onshore and the swell becoming messy again, so don’t hold your breath.

Overall, the first week is a big, messy dud except for that one clean morning on the 8th. The second week, from the 11th to the 13th, is your best bet. Look for that Friday morning session.

Rusty.

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