Rainbow Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what Rainbow Bay's got cooking for us over the next couple of weeks. The pattern shows a bit of a slow start before a proper pulse of energy rolls in, and that second week looks like it'll be the main event if you've got the skills for it.

We kick off on Friday, the 10th of July, with a solid start. The water temp is sitting at 21°, which is pretty much bang on average for this time of year, so nothing unusual there. We’ve got a clean 6ft swell rolling in from the southeast, with a period of 10 seconds and a combined energy of 933 (moderate). The wind is offshore and light, making for clean lines right from the get-go. This is a good, fun wave for the weekend crowd, but keep in mind that Rainbow Bay can get busy, so expect company in the water.

Saturday morning, the 11th of July, is even better. The swell drops a touch to 5ft from the southeast, but the real story is the glassy conditions – dead calm wind. That’s a major positive, giving you a slick, clean surface for those point-break runners.

Sunday the 12th and Monday the 13th see the surf drop off. The swell gets smaller and the wind turns cross-onshore, making things choppy and ordinary. Not worth rushing for.

We then hit a bit of a lull from the afternoon of the 13th right through the 15th of July. There’s very little energy in the water, with combined swell energy dropping into double digits – weak stuff for a few sessions there.

Then things get serious. The real standout period starts on Thursday the 16th of July. The wind goes fresh and offshore, but the swell is already pumping: 10ft from the south with a combined energy of 1503 (strong). This is big, powerful surf. By Friday the 17th of July, it really fires up. We’re looking at a whopping 16ft southerly swell with a long period of 12 seconds. The combined energy is a massive 10370 (very strong). This is heavy, expert-only territory. The conditions are clean but that’s raw power – definitely not a beginner’s game.

That big, powerful swell holds through Saturday and Sunday the 18th and 19th of July, with waves still in the 10ft to 12ft range, clean and offshore. This is the pick of the entire run for experienced surfers: powerful, clean, and consistent.

After that, the swell fades through the 20th to the 25th of July. We get some glassy mornings and cleaner windows on the 24th with a 4ft SE swell, but it’s nothing compared to that big pulse earlier in the week.

So for the best on offer, don’t bother with the first few days unless you want a casual cruise. The true standout is that window from Thursday the 16th through Sunday the 19th of July – big, solid, clean surf for those who can handle it. The Saturday morning of the 18th of July with an 12ft SSE swell and moderate offshore wind is about as good as it gets at this break.

Stay safe out there.

- Rusty

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