Richards Bay (Inside) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right then, let’s have a look at what’s on the table for Richards Bay (Inside). It’s a sandbar set-up, fairly exposed to the south, and it’s a consistent spot – so the potential is there even if we have to dig for it. The water temp feels about average for this time of year, nothing wild going on.

The first real glimmer is Sunday morning the 26th. We’ve got 5 ft of SE swell, a solid 9-second period, and a light north-easterly cross-offshore breeze. The combined energy is sitting at 521, which is moderate, and the conditions are clean. It’s not the biggest, but it’s the only real window of quality early doors. The afternoon goes sour quick – NE wind picks up, crosses the wave face, and the surf drops off. A short-lived window, but if you’re keen, Sunday morning is your only real shot in the first week.

After that, it’s a grim run. Monday the 27th through to Tuesday the 29th, the wind is all over the place – cross, cross-on, and moderate to fresh breezes. Swell hangs around the 2 ft to 7 ft mark, but the periods are all over the shop and the energy (e.g. 219, 588) is either weak or poorly directed. The wind messes up any chance of a clean wave. By Wednesday the 29th and Thursday the 30th, the swell pushes up to 7 ft to 7 ft, but it’s all cross-shore chop with moderate wind. The energy climbs into the 900-1500 range, but the quality is junk. This isn’t for paddle surfing – with that cross-breeze and lumpy sea, it looks more like a kite session.

The first week is a write-off after Sunday. There’s a long gap of nothing good until the start of week two.

Now, the standout. Monday the 3rd of August. This is the one. The morning brings glassy conditions – a light SSW breeze, almost nothing – and the swell is 7 ft of ESE groundswell at 11 seconds. Combined energy is a solid 1277. That’s a proper, clean, long-period groundswell pushing in with no wind to mess it up. The setup is a sandbar, so the long period might make it a little straight compared to a reef, but with that size and clean face, it’ll be the best session of the forecast. Afternoon gets a bit choppy as the east wind picks up, but the morning is the real deal. It’s an intermediate-friendly size, but at 7 ft it’s edging towards strong for beginners – take care.

Thursday the 6th of August morning offers another glassy moment, with a 6 ft ESE swell at 9 seconds and combined energy around 548. It’s clean, but the period is shorter and the energy is weaker. Still a fun session if you’re around, but not a patch on Monday.

The last few days, from the 7th to the 10th, drop off. The swell fades to 3 ft to 5 ft, the wind turns cross or cross-off, but the energy is low (228-374), and most of the afternoon slots are blown out. The Sunday morning of the 9th, with 3 ft E swell and a cross-off NNE breeze, is surfable but ordinary.

So to sum it up: you’ve got Sunday morning the 26th for a quick clean window, but the real standout is Monday the 3rd of August with glassy, 7 ft groundswell – that’s the one to circle. The rest of the window is mostly cross-shore chop and mediocre conditions. Keep your eye on the long-range, Monday morning is the payoff.

Rusty.

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