Rainbow Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s coming down the pipeline for Rainbow Bay. It’s a bit of a slow start, but there’s some serious gold waiting for us if we’re patient.

We’ve got a bit of a dry spell to kick things off. From Sunday the 9th right through until Wednesday the 13th, it’s a write-off for any kind of decent surf. The energy is weak, with combined swell energy readings mostly under 250, and the wind is all over the shop – mostly onshore or cross-onshore, keeping things messy. You’ll be staring at flat, bumpy water for a few days, so don’t even bother waxing up.

Thursday the 13th morning sees a flicker of life. A gentle offshore breeze from the SSW cleans up a small 3ft swell from the south. The energy is still weak at 155, but it’s surfable. It’s not going to get the heart pumping, but it’s a start.

Now, hold onto your boardies, because Friday the 14th morning is the first real standout. The wind goes glassy offshore from the south, and we get a solid 8ft pulse from the south with a 10-second period. The combined energy jumps to 1965, which is a proper wall of water. This is for the experienced crew only – that’s a lot of power. It’s going to be clean and meaty, but it’s not for the faint of heart.

The weekend settles back into a more manageable range. Saturday the 15th and Sunday the 16th see consistent 4ft to 6ft swell from the SSE, with clean offshore winds. The energy drops to the 200-400 range, making it much more user-friendly. It’s ordinary conditions, but surfable and clean.

Monday the 17th morning brings another solid pulse. A 7ft swell from the SE with a cross-offshore breeze keeps things clean. The energy is a solid 575, and it’s labelled as good surf. This is a strong option for the week.

The real fireworks, though, are reserved for the second week. Starting Thursday the 20th of August, we’ve got a proper run of excellent surf. The morning brings a 10ft swell from the ESE with a 9-second period and a gentle offshore wind. The combined energy is a massive 1298. This is a stand-out session for experts only – that’s some serious size and power. The afternoon holds the same quality.

Friday the 21st is still pumping, with a 7ft swell from the east and clean offshore winds. Energy is still very high at 1275.

But the absolute pick of the whole forecast is Saturday the 22nd of August. We’ve got a 7ft swell from the east in the morning, building to 8ft in the afternoon, with a very long 11-second period. The wind is light offshore or cross-offshore, and the energy is off the charts at 1712. This is groundswell of the highest order. That long period will make for some proper, drawn-out lines at this point break, but it’s going to be powerful. If you’ve got the skill, this is the day to clear your calendar. Sunday the 23rd morning is also a gem, with a 7ft east swell, a 12-second period, and glassy conditions. The water temperature is about average for this time of year, so no surprises there.

Just keep in mind, when the swell gets over 8ft, it’s strictly for the experienced, and that long-period groundswell likes to break a bit straight on the beach, but at a point like Rainbow Bay, it’s going to be a thing of beauty. Crowds are often an issue here, so get in early.

That’s the word from the bay. Keep your eyes on the horizon and your wax on.

Rusty

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