Raffs Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s lining up for Raffs Beach over the next couple of weeks.

Right off the bat, we’ve got a bit of a wait. The first proper session to get excited about is Tuesday afternoon, the 21st of July. There’s a clean 3.9ft SW swell rolling in with a solid 13-second period and a light cross-off breeze. The water’s sitting at 56.1°, which is bang on average for this time of year, so nothing unusual there. The combined energy is a solid 509 – good, moderate energy – and for a beginner-friendly spot like Raffs Beach, that’s a damn nice introduction. It’s fairly consistent and can get a crowd sometimes, so get in early.

Wednesday morning, the 22nd, is still rideable with a 3.6ft SW swell, but it’s a bit windier and the forecast is a bit touch-and-go. Thursday morning, the 23rd, is where things get real. We’ve got a massive 11.5ft SW swell with a 14-second period, and the combined energy is a whopping 7561. That’s serious power. But the file’s telling me it’s simply too big for this break. Same goes for Thursday afternoon, all of Friday, and Saturday – there’s a ton of swell, but it’s a no-go for paddle surfing. The winds are howling and the size is just too much for the lineup. If you’re a kite surfer, this setup looks like a whole lot of fun, but for the rest of us, give it a miss.

The next one that catches my eye is Monday afternoon, the 27th of July. It’s a 6.9ft WSW swell, 11-second period, light offshore breeze, and clean conditions. The combined energy is 1080, and the wave comment says it’s excellent for experienced surfers. This is a solid option for the crew that can handle it. Tuesday the 28th is similar, with a 6.9ft SW swell and a light cross-off breeze. Good energy.

Now, we’ve got another spike of size on Tuesday the 28th afternoon and Wednesday the 29th, with 11.5ft and 9.8ft swells, but again, it’s flagged as too big for the break. The winds are light and glassy at times, which is a shame because the conditions would be perfect otherwise. That’s a real tease.

After that, things settle down nicely. Thursday the 30th morning offers a 6.9ft SW swell, 13-second period, light winds, and a combined energy of 1686. Excellent for experienced surfers. Friday the 31st is a good one for the less experienced crew, with a 3.9ft SW swell and a gentle breeze. Saturday the 1st of August is a real standout: clean, light offshore winds, and a 2.6ft SW swell in the morning, building to 3.9ft in the afternoon. The period is a very long 16 seconds, and the combined energy is 660. That’s a groundswell, and it’s going to produce some long, clean lines. Raffs Beach is an exposed beach, so with that long period, it might break a little straight, but the conditions are so good, it’s hard to complain.

The second week gets a bit messy. Sunday the 2nd and Monday the 3rd are marginal, with onshore winds creeping in. By Tuesday the 4th and Wednesday the 5th of August, we’ve got strong onshore winds and poor conditions. The swell is still there, but the wind is just ruining it. Not worth paddling out.

So, the standout of the whole run is Saturday the 1st of August. That glassy, clean morning with the long-period groundswell is the one to circle. The other top pick is Monday the 27th and Tuesday the 28th for the bigger, cleaner swells for the experienced surfers.

Stay safe out there.

Read more