Richards Bay (Inside) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, this is Rusty. Let's talk about what's shaking for the Richards Bay stretch.

The water is sitting at 71°, which is pretty much dead average for this time of year, so nothing weird there.

The first few days are a total loss. Tuesday the 18th and Wednesday the 19th are a mess. We’ve got a fresh cross-shore wind and lumpy chop, and the swell is short period and weak. The combined wave energy is low, around 334 for the first day, and it's not worth getting your wetsuit wet.

Thursday the 20th is a hard pass. The swell jumps up to 10ft from the south, but it’s a short period of 8 seconds and it’s coming with a cross-onshore wind. The energy is a solid 1071, but it’s just a washing machine. This is more of a kite session than a paddle session, if you ask me.

We start to see a shift on Friday the 21st. The morning looks like the best of a bad bunch early on. There’s a 5ft south swell with a 14-second period, which is proper groundswell. The energy is high at 976, but a stiff cross-shore wind keeps it from being great. It’s surfable, but it’s a fight.

Saturday the 22nd morning is a tease. The swell drops to 2ft, but it’s clean with a light offshore wind. The energy is a weak 105, so it’s tiny, but it’s the first clean window we’ve seen.

Now, here’s the big one. The real standout is Sunday the 23rd morning. The forecast is showing a 10ft south swell, and the wind is looking cross-shore, which is about as good as it gets for this spot. The energy is massive, 3041, and the conditions are saying the wind and tide are favorable. However, the guidance says it’s predicted to be too big for this break. This isn't for beginners; it’s a big, powerful groundswell that will be a handful. If you’re an expert, this is the window to watch. The period is 12 seconds, so it’s got some heft.

Monday the 24th morning is the other really good one. The swell drops to a more manageable 6ft from the south, but the period stretches to 14 seconds. The wind is a light cross-offshore from the NNE, which means clean, glassy conditions. The energy is 1319, which is solid. This is the best all-rounder in the whole forecast. The crowd situation is listed as "sometimes" at Richards Bay, so you might get some company, but the conditions are worth it.

After that, it’s a quick drop-off. Tuesday the 25th morning is clean but small, with 3ft. The rest of the week and into the first days of September is mostly poor, with onshore winds, small weak swells, and lumpy conditions. The last week is a bust.

So, the call is simple. The best surf on offer is the big, expert-only swell on Sunday the 23rd morning, and the clean, solid Monday the 24th morning. If you’re not an expert, aim for the Monday. Everything else is a gamble.

Rusty.

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