Rainbow Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s cookin’ at Rainbow Bay.

Alright, so the outlook for the next couple of weeks is a bit of a mixed bag. We’ve got some waves on the cards, but finding a real standout session is gonna take a bit of patience. The water temp is sitting at 69°, which is bang on average for the time of year, so no need to dig out the extra thick steamer just yet.

The first real glimmer of hope comes on Saturday, July 25th. The morning session is looking like the pick of the whole run. We’re seeing a clean 5ft swell pushing in from the SSE, with a light 6 mph southerly breeze keeping it glassy. The combined energy of all swells directed here is a solid 772 (moderate wave energy), which should give it some good push. This is a beginner-friendly point break, and with those conditions, it’s going to be a fun morning. Keep in mind, Rainbow Bay can get crowded, so you’ll want to be out there early to grab a few clean ones.

Saturday afternoon drops off pretty quick. The swell backs down to 2ft and the wind swings around to a light cross-onshore, making it feel a bit messy.

The next noteworthy window is Thursday, July 30th. The morning is alright – 5ft from the south with a moderate 16 mph offshore wind, keeping things clean. The energy is moderate (249). The afternoon, though, bumps up to 7ft from the SSE with a fresh 19 mph offshore wind. That’s getting into the zone where it’s not for the groms, but for the experienced crew, it’s worth a look. The energy is still moderate (438). It’s a little on the short period though (7 seconds), so it’ll be a bit lumpy and not as well-shaped as we’d like.

After that, the forecast gets pretty ordinary for a solid stretch. There’s a gap from Thursday, July 31st right through to Wednesday, August 6th where nothing really stands out. We’re seeing a lot of small, weak swells with poor short-period energy, often in the 100-300 range, and the winds are either cross-off or just not giving us the clean face we want. It’s surfable, but it’s very ordinary.

The one that might be worth a look later on is Thursday, August 6th morning. The swell is 4ft from the east with a 9-second period, which is a bit better. The energy is 330 (moderate), and the wind is light offshore from the SSE. It’s not a world-beater, but it’s clean and consistent. It’s a long-range call, so keep an eye on it, but it’s promising.

Bottom line: If you’re surfing this period, Saturday, July 25th morning is your best bet. Get it while it’s clean. After that, you’re waiting for Thursday, July 30th afternoon for a bigger, more powerful – but rougher – session. The rest is for the patient or the desperate.

Rusty.

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