Richards Bay (Inside) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right then, let’s break down the surf around Richards Bay (Inside). It starts with a big hammer blow of swell, then it’s all quiet for a good while, and there’s a little hope way out in the forecast.

We open on Friday, July 3rd, with a chunky 3.0m south swell running at 13 seconds. The combined energy is 2831 – that’s a lot of power. This is a heavy groundswell. The water temp is about what you’d expect for this time of year. Early morning has a light cross-shore breeze, so it’s not too messy, but man, this is way too big for anyone but the experts. By the afternoon, the wind comes onshore and it’s just poor.

Saturday the 4th sees the swell drop to 2.2m from the SSE, still with a nice 13-second period. The morning is clean with a light offshore wind. Energy is still strong at 1770. This is the highlight for experienced surfers – big, powerful, and clean. The afternoon goes onshore again.

Sunday the 5th is the day for the average surfer. The swell is 1.6m from the SE, period 11 seconds, and it’s dead glassy in the morning. Combined energy 673. Not as powerful but clean and rideable. The afternoon gets wrecked by a strong NE wind.

Then comes a long, boring stretch. From Monday the 6th all the way to Wednesday the 15th, the swell is tiny – most days under a metre. Combined energy mostly below 200, often under 100. The wind is often strong and messy. There’s nothing worth getting wet for.

Things perk up a bit on Thursday the 16th. A 2.4m south swell, short period of 7 seconds, but a light offshore wind in the morning. Energy is 625 – moderate. It’s a bit lumpy with that period, but clean enough for the experts.

The real promise for the second week is Friday the 10th of July morning. A south swell of 1.6m with a very long 14-second period, and a clean light offshore breeze. Energy is strong at 1092. This is classic groundswell, long lines, and Richards Bay inside will love it. It’s promising, but it’s a week and a half out, so have patience.

Saturday the 18th also shows a little something – a 1.0m, 14-second south swell with a light offshore in the morning. Nothing big, but clean and fun with 545 energy.

The standout is Saturday the 4th of July morning for the experienced crowd, and Sunday the 5th morning for everyone else. Long range, Friday the 10th morning is the one to circle.

Rusty

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