Rainbow Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right then, let’s have a look what’s on the cards for the next couple of weeks around Rainbow Bay. It’s a point break and pretty sheltered down here.

We’ve got a bit of a slow start, to be honest. The early days are looking flat and messy. Sunday the 13th has a bit of knee-to-waist high swell from the SE, around 4ft, with a short period of 8 seconds, but the wind is cross-off and the energy is only weak (235). It’s surfable but nothing to get excited about. Monday the 14th and Tuesday the 15th stay tiny, with the wind turning onshore and the energy dropping into the weak to very weak range. It’s a quiet stretch.

Then things get a bit spicy. Wednesday the 16th, the wind swings offshore and cleans right up, but the swell is just a whisper in the morning. By the afternoon though, a big lump of energy rolls in – we’re talking 10ft from the SSE, but with a short period (8 seconds) and very strong combined energy (1274). That’s a lot of water moving fast, and for a sheltered point like Rainbow Bay, that much short-period swell is going to be a handful and more suited to the experts. The offshore wind is a plus, but the conditions are marginal.

Thursday the 17th keeps that size – 10ft from the SSE, period stretching to 10 seconds, and massive energy (1644) – with fresh offshore winds all day. Again, this is big and powerful, not for the faint-hearted. The wave quality is described as marginal due to tide or conditions.

The real standout, the one to circle on the calendar, is Friday morning, 18th September. This is the best on offer. Swell drops a touch to 8ft from the SSE, still a solid size, but the period is up to a nice 10 seconds and the wind is a clean, moderate offshore from the S. The combined energy is absolutely pumping at 2018 – that’s very strong. The forecast calls this excellent for experienced surfers. It’s going to be big, powerful, and clean. For the advanced crew, this is the session.

After that, it fades. Saturday the 19th and Sunday the 20th see the swell drop and the wind go onshore again, making for poor conditions. There’s a blip on Monday 21st afternoon with a 8ft S swell and short 7-second period, but with a cross-off wind and moderate energy (592), it’s messy and marginal. The rest of the week into the end of the month is quiet, with onshore winds and small, weak swell. The 28th shows a 7ft SE pulse, but the wind is onshore and the period is short, so don’t hold your breath.

Water temp is sitting about 70°F, which is bang on average for this time of year. No surprises there.

So, for the board selection: Friday morning’s your window if you’ve got the skill and the big-wave gear. Otherwise, it’s a waiting game. Crowds can be an issue here, especially when it’s good, so that Friday might be busy with the local chargers.

Stay salty.
Rusty.

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