Richards Bay (Inside) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s cookin’ for Richards Bay (Inside) over the next couple weeks.

Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you – the next few days aren’t gonna get your heart racing. We’ve got a bit of a slow start with small, messy surf and cross-onshore breezes making things look pretty ordinary. But don’t write it off just yet, because there’s definitely some life coming through, especially if you’re patient.

Sunday the 12th kicks off with some rain showers and a light SSW breeze blowing cross-on. The swell’s a modest 5 ft from the south with a decent 12-second period, so the energy’s there (combined energy sits at 640), but the wind’s just not playing ball. The inside sandbar won’t be holding much shape – poor conditions all round. The water temp’s sitting at 72°, which is pretty much spot on for this time of year, so at least you won’t need a thick suit.

Monday the 13th sees a shift in swell direction to the ESE, but the period drops to 8 seconds – that’s a short-period, weaker windswell. The wind swings around from the NE, keeping things cross-shore and a bit bumpy. Not a whole lot to get excited about.

Tuesday the 14th morning is where we start seeing a little promise. The morning brings a 6 ft ESE swell, 9-second period, and a light NNE breeze that’s actually slightly offshore. The combined energy jumps up to 666, and the surface is clean. The conditions are marginal, but this is probably your best bet so far – you might snag a couple if you’re keen.

Wednesday the 15th morning looks even better. Clean lines, 6 ft from the ESE, 10-second period, light NNE offshore wind and 564 combined energy. This is where I’d point you – the surf should be well-shaped and rideable for an intermediate. It’s not massive, but it’s clean and fun.

Thursday the 16th morning is a real standout. Glassy conditions – zero wind from the SE – and a 5 ft ESE swell with a 10-second period. Combined energy at 417, but it’s that dead flat water that makes the difference. If you can get out early, this could be the cleanest session of the first week.

Friday the 17th is a write-off – strong SSW winds, choppy onshore junk, not much to work with. And watch out for Saturday the 18th – we’ve got a 6 ft south swell with a 14-second period and a combined energy of 1426, which is strong, but it’s coming in with a strong onshore wind and rain. That one’s gonna be big, wild, and messy – probably more for the kite crew than paddle surfers.

Then there’s a bit of a lull around the 20th and 21st where the swell drops right off – tiny waves, low energy, not worth paddling out.

Now, fast forward to the 22nd of July – Wednesday morning. This one’s worth circling on your calendar. A 7 ft swell from the south with an 8-second period, light NNE offshore breeze, and clean conditions. The combined energy is 714, and with offshore wind and that size, it’s gonna be punchy and fun. The period’s a bit short, so it’ll be more of a wave that walls up and rolls fast, but for experienced surfers, this could be the best session of the whole outlook. Just be aware – at 7 ft, that’s starting to push into expert territory.

The following days show some long-period groundswell coming through – the 23rd has a 4 ft south swell with a 13-second period and a fresh NNE cross-offshore breeze. Clean, but a bit on the smaller side. The 24th has a 3 ft south swell with a very long 16-second period – that’s gonna be super straight and hard to hold shape on a sandbar like Richards Bay Inside. Probably better for a point or reef, but here it’ll be tricky.

Then on the 26th – Sunday morning – we get a 6 ft SSW swell with a 16-second period and a combined energy of 1615. That’s strong energy. But it’s cross-shore winds from the NE, and at that long period, it’s likely to be a bit too lined up and fast for the inside sandbar to break properly. Still, if you know the bank, there could be a few.

And finally, the 27th – Monday morning – a 8 ft south swell with a 13-second period, moderate NNE cross-offshore wind, and a combined energy of 1819. That’s big, solid, and clean. But at 8 ft, this is expert-only territory. The sandbar will be handling some serious water, and the sets will be heavy. If you’re a strong surfer and know the spot, this could be a proper session.

All up, the standout windows are Thursday 16th morning for clean glassy fun, and Wednesday 22nd morning for that punchy, offshore-sculpted swell. The bigger stuff later on is promising but with the sandbar setup and long-period swell, don’t expect perfection.

Rusty.

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