Rainbow Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Righto, surf fans, Rusty here, looking at what's on the menu for the next couple of weeks. We've got a solid block of action for the first part, then it gets a bit patchy towards the end, so let's get straight into it.

We're kicking off at Rainbow Bay, a sheltered point break that's a great option for beginners when the conditions line up. The water's sitting at a comfortable 71°F, pretty much exactly what you'd expect for this time of year.

Sunday the 5th starts things off, but honestly, it's a bit of a warm-up. We've got 3 ft of easterly swell, but it's pretty weak energy (212) and the onshore southerly is messing with it. It's not worth getting excited about.

Monday the 6th sees a big jump in size. The swell pushes up to 10 ft in the morning, going to 12 ft in the afternoon, coming from the SSE with a short, punchy period. The wind stays offshore though, so it'll be clean. But this is big, powerful stuff with massive energy (1536-1760) – this is experts-only territory. Beginners need to sit this one out.

Tuesday the 7th is more of the same, with 10 ft to 12 ft of SSE swell, the period stretching out to 10 seconds which adds some punch. Winds are still offshore and moderate, so the lines will be clean. Still very solid and only for those with experience.

Now, here's where it gets really interesting. Wednesday the 8th is shaping up as the best day of the entire run. Morning and afternoon we’re looking at 10 ft of SE swell with a juicy 11-second period, clean offshore winds, and wave energy through the roof (2389-2426). This is proper groundswell pushing in, meaning long, racy lines down the point. It's a standout for experienced surfers. Given it's a point break, those long period waves will wrap in beautifully. Crowds are often a factor here, and on a day like this, expect plenty of company.

Thursday the 9th keeps the quality high. 8 ft of SSE swell in the morning (energy 2582), dropping to 8 ft from the SE in the afternoon, still with good offshore winds. Very good surf for the crew who can handle it.

Friday the 10th is still clean and solid with 7 ft of SSE swell, but the wind swings cross-offshore in the afternoon, taking the gloss off a little.

Then we hit a quiet patch. From Saturday the 11th, the swell drops right away. 5 ft on Saturday morning goes glassy with light NW winds, which is a nice lull. But from Saturday afternoon through to Wednesday the 15th, the wind turns onshore or cross-shore and the swell gets smaller and weaker. There are a few days there with hardly any energy (as low as 28), so it's not worth paddling out.

Things try to pick up again on Thursday the 16th of July. We see 8 ft of S swell in the morning, with clean offshore winds and solid energy (1503). It's a better prospect, but it's not the quality of that big Wednesday.

Friday the 17th starts off glassy with 6 ft of SSE swell, a nice little clean window.

And then we get a tricky one for Saturday the 18th. The swell builds to 7 ft with a very long 14-second period from the SE, and massive energy (2040). This is a true groundswell, which at a point like Rainbow Bay should be excellent for experienced surfers. However, the wind is onshore by the morning and turns into a moderate breeze by the afternoon, making it a bit of a gamble. It's a promising long-range call, but less certain. After that, Sunday the 19th and Monday the 20th look blown out with onshore winds and smaller, weaker swell.

So, the clear standouts are Wednesday the 8th and Thursday the 9th – that's where you want to be. The wave energy is massive, the swell direction (SE) is perfect for the point, and the offshore winds will have it looking like a postcard. It's big, so bring your big-wave board and leave the foamie at home.

Rusty.

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