Red Strand (Dirk Bay) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, grab a seat. Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you: the next couple of weeks are looking pretty bleak for a proper surf. We’ve got a window coming up, but you’re going to need to pick your moments, and even then, it’s not going to be a classic.

The main issue is the lack of any real size or consistency. We’re looking at a bunch of small, short-period swells with a lot of cross and onshore wind messing things up. For the first several days, there’s nothing worth paddling out for. It’s one of those stretches where the beach might be prettier than the surf. If you're set on getting wet, you might be better off with a kite than a board once the wind gets up on the 12th.

The first real glimmer of hope shows up on the morning of Sunday the 15th. The wind swings around to a light cross-offshore from the NNW and it cleans things right up. Now, the swell is tiny at 1ft, but it’s clean. The energy is weak, only 17. If you’re desperate for a glide on a longboard, that’s your window. The afternoon of the 15th and the morning of the 16th are also clean with light offshore winds, but it’s still ankle to knee high. The 16th afternoon stays clean with a cross-offshore breeze, but the swell drops to 2ft.

Thursday the 17th morning keeps that clean, small theme going with a light cross-offshore. The afternoon sees the period jump up to a very long 19 seconds, but the height is essentially nothing at 0.3ft, so this is the kind of long-period swell that might offer a few lines but won't have any push. It’s more of a “look at the ocean” kind of day than a surf day. That long period is classic for reef setups, but with zero size, it's hard to get excited.

There is a slight pulse of swell energy that moves in on the 19th, with a cross-shore wind. It’s still small, around 3ft, but the period is a weak 4 seconds, so it's going to be crumbly and without any punch. The wind will chop it up too. Not good.

Looking further out, the 21st brings a bigger period – 13 seconds – but the height is a pathetic 0.7ft and it’s cross-shore. Again, frustrating. The final days of the period, from the 22nd to the 24th, have light winds and tiny, short-period slop, nothing worth the drive.

So, what’s the call? The best of a bad bunch is the morning of the 15th at Red Strand (Dirk Bay). It’s glassy, light wind, and the water is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, sitting around 62°. It’s a sheltered little reef, and it’s fairly consistent, so you might get a couple of fun ones if you’re on the right board. But it’s a beginner wave at best, and you’ll be working hard for those 1ft shoulders. Don’t expect any crowds given the conditions, but that’s one less thing to worry about.

The rest of the run is mostly a write-off. There’s just no power in the water and the winds are all over the shop. Keep the board in the car, but maybe check the forecast again in a week. As I say, it never stays this poor for long. Forecasts are changeable.

Stay stoked.

Rusty

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