Richards Bay (Inside) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here again. Let's break down the surf for Richards Bay (Inside) for the next couple of weeks, but in feet and miles per hour this time.

Right off the bat, I gotta level with you – this isn't shaping up to be a classic run. We've got a whole lot of days with poor surf conditions and not much to get excited about. The water temp is sitting at 71°F, which is bang on average for this time of year, so at least you won't need the thickest rubber.

The first few days are a write-off. Wednesday the 26th is a bit of a mess with a 6ft south swell, but it's cross-onshore from the SSE and the wind's making it choppy. The energy is moderate (1997), but the quality just isn't there. Thursday the 27th is no better, with a bigger 7ft south swell but a cross-shore NE wind picking up to 30 km/h in the afternoon, turning it into a lumpy cross-chop. Friday the 28th through to Wednesday the 3rd of September is a real dry spell – we're looking at tiny waves, strong winds, and mostly poor conditions. The swell drops right off, with heights from 4ft down to a piddly 1ft, and the energy is weak. You'd be better off staying home.

Now, there is a little flicker of hope on Thursday the 4th of September. The morning sees a 4ft south swell, but it's still cross-shore and messy. The afternoon, however, has a solid 8ft south swell rolling in with a 14-second period and a strong energy reading (2195). The problem is the NE wind is honking at 40 km/h – that's a strong breeze creating a messy cross-chop. It's a beach-and-sandbar setup, and with that much wind, it might be more interesting for the kite surfers than us paddle surfers.

But hold onto your board, because Saturday the 5th of September is the real standout. The morning session is looking absolutely massive – a 16ft south swell with a 14-second period and a huge energy reading (9005). The wind is a clean cross-offshore from the NNE at 35 km/h, and it's described as "clean." This is a proper groundswell with a very long period, and it's going to be powerful. But here's the crucial caveat: this break is a sandbar, and with a swell this big (over 8ft), it's strictly for experts only. The wave quality is flagged as wind and tide favorable, but the swell is predicted to be too big for this break. So, if you're a seasoned charger, this could be a memorable session, but it's a beast.

Sunday the 6th of September is still pumping with a 16ft south-southeast swell in the morning, but the wind swings to a cross-onshore, making it a bit choppy. The energy is still massive (8448), and it's still too big for anyone but the brave. The swell eases into Monday the 7th with an 8ft southeast swell, but it's cross-onshore and the conditions are just marginal.

After that, it's a long, slow fade. The rest of the week into the 10th of September sees the swell disappear, with tiny waves, light winds, and very low energy. The morning of Wednesday the 9th of September is notable for a glassy, 2ft south swell with a very long 16-second period (267 energy), but it's just too small to surf. The forecast is promising for that window, but a 2ft wave is barely a ripple.

So, to sum it up: the best (and really only) standout is Saturday the 5th of September morning for experts only. It's a massive, clean south swell, but it's a sandbar, so it's going to be a wild, powerful ride. Don't even bother for the first week, and the second week is a slow, flat end. The forecasts can change, but right now, it's a pretty barren run.

Rusty.

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