Richards Bay (Inside) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, this is Rusty comin’ at ya live from the KwaZulu-Natal north coast. Let’s be straight with you: the next few days are gonna test your patience. We’ve got a bit of swell around, but the wind and conditions are just not playing ball for a good paddle at Richards Bay (Inside). It’s a sandbar setup, so when it’s messy, it’s really messy.

For the first few days from Saturday the 25th right through to Friday the 31st of July, it’s a write-off. The swell is on the small side early on, then it builds, but the wind is all over the shop—cross, cross-on, and choppy. The combined swell energy is moderate at best, ranging from about 520 to 2318, but the quality is just not there. The wind is either a gentle or moderate breeze, but it’s coming from the wrong angles, creating a messy cross-chop. You’re better off checking the wind forecast for kite surfing than waxing your board. There’s a big gap of no recommendations here.

Now, listen up. The standout is Saturday, August 1st, and Sunday, August 2nd. This is where we get a glimmer of hope. On Saturday morning, the wind goes glassy—that’s a slight air, you’ll be able to hear yourself think out there. The swell is a solid 8 ft from the SE at 11 seconds, with a combined energy of 1629—moderate to strong energy, but definitely pushing. The text says it’s excellent for experienced surfers, and that’s because 8 ft is getting a bit too much for beginners. The swell direction is SSE to SE, and the optimum for this spot is S, so it’s a bit off, but the glassy conditions could make it work.

Then Sunday morning the 2nd, the wind swings to a clean cross-off from the NNE, which will be a dream. The swell drops a touch to 7 ft from the ESE at 12 seconds, with 1368 combined energy. This groundswell has a long period (over 11 seconds), so it’ll have good shape and energy, but it might be a bit straight at the sandbar. Still, a clean 7 ft day is a damn good day. The crowds are described as sometimes, so you can expect some company, but it won’t be a circus.

The water temp is average for this time of year, nothing wild to report.

After that, into the second week, it’s a slow fade. You get some clean mornings on the 3rd and 4th of August with 6-5 ft swell (combined energy around 586-909), but the swell direction is shifting more east, and the wind builds in the afternoons. From the 5th onward, it gets small and weak. The highlight of the whole run is definitely that Saturday and Sunday, August 1st and 2nd. After that, it’s a long gap of poor conditions.

So, if you’re an experienced surfer, mark your calendar for that Saturday and Sunday. It’s not perfect, but it’s the best we’ve got.

Rusty.

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