Red Island Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s shaping up for the next couple of weeks.

We’ve got a bit of a slow start, but don’t write it off just yet. The first real window of clean surf hits us Saturday afternoon, July 18th, and it’s a beauty. The standout session is going to be Red Island – a beach and reef setup that gets a solid, long-period south groundswell. The swell energy is pumping, coming in at a whopping 2129, which is strong to very strong. We’re looking at 4ft of swell, but the real magic is the glassy conditions with a light 5 km/h breeze from the ENE. The water is sitting at 55°, which is a touch cooler than normal for this time of year, but nothing crazy. The period is a very long 23 seconds, so this is classic groundswell energy. That long period means the waves will have plenty of shape and power, but at a beach break, it might break a bit straight in spots. It’s a spot that’s inconsistent and only for experienced surfers, so if you’re a beginner, stay on the sand for this one.

Sunday morning, July 19th, holds up nicely. The swell drops just a hair to 5ft from the south, still a solid 18-second period, and the wind is light and cross-offshore from the west at 10 km/h. The energy is still strong at 1687. It’s clean, it’s got power, and it’s still got that long-period push. This is another excellent window for the experienced crew.

Things turn a bit ugly by Sunday afternoon as the wind swings onshore and the swell quality drops. Monday morning, July 20th, offers a brief reprieve with 3ft of south swell and a cross-off breeze, but the energy has dropped to 838 (moderate), and the period is still a respectable 15 seconds. It’s surfable, but not the same level as the weekend. Monday afternoon sees a jump in size to 7ft, but the wind is onshore and choppy, making it a messy affair.

Tuesday, July 21st, is another good morning. The swell is 6ft from the south, 15-second period, and clean with a light cross-offshore breeze. The energy is strong at 1416. The afternoon stays clean, with 5ft and a light NE breeze, but the crowd factor is something to keep in mind at Red Island, as it gets crowded sometimes.

After Tuesday, the quality drops off significantly. We get a few clean mornings with small waves (2ft to 4ft) through Wednesday and Thursday, but the energy is weak (under 400). From Friday, July 24th, through to Sunday, August 2nd, it’s a long stretch of poor conditions. The wind is either cross or onshore, and the swell is either too small, too short period, or just plain messy. The 26th of July brings a 7ft to 8ft SSE swell, but with howling 25 to 35 km/h winds, it’s a complete washout. That’s not a surf day – that’s a kite-surfing day if you’ve got the gear.

The end of the forecast window, around the 29th of July to the 31st, shows a glimmer of hope. Clean morning conditions return with 4ft to 3ft of ESE swell, but the period is a modest 11 to 12 seconds, and the energy is low (around 400). It’s a good bet for a longboard or a fun fish, but nothing to get too excited about. The 2nd of August looks like a bigger, cleaner swell might be trying to build, but with a cross-shore wind, it’s still a question mark.

So, for the best on offer, lock in Saturday afternoon, July 18th and Sunday morning, July 19th at Red Island. That’s the cream of the crop. The rest is a mix of small windows and long waits.

Rusty.

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