Riet River Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a good look at what’s on the cards for the Riet River area over the next couple of weeks.

We’ve got a bit of a slow start, but don’t write it off just yet. The first real action kicks off on Saturday the 25th of July. Riet River is a point break, and it’s an inconsistent one, so when it fires, you’ve got to be on it. The water is sitting at 65°F, which is a bit colder than normal for this time of year, so you’ll want that extra layer.

The standout session is the Saturday morning, 25th of July. The surf is a solid 7ft, rolling in from the SSW with a period of 14 seconds – that’s quality groundswell with some real energy behind it (combined energy of 1825). The wind is a clean cross-offshore from the WSW, so expect those waves to be holding their shape nicely. This is excellent surf, but at 7ft, it’s getting into the territory that’s more suited to experienced surfers. That being said, a point break like this will handle that size beautifully.

The same afternoon, the wind swings to a light cross-on from the SSE, which will put a bit of a crinkle on the surface. The swell is still solid at 7ft, but the tide or conditions look a bit off, so it’s not as clean as the morning.

Sunday the 26th is a write-off. The wind is onshore and the waves start to get messy and choppy, dropping in size through the day. Monday the 27th has clean offshore winds again, but the swell is smaller and the wind is strong – 22 mph in the morning – making it pretty tough going.

For the rest of that first week and into the start of August, the wind is a real problem. We’ve got a long stretch of strong onshore and cross-onshore winds, making for lumpy, messy conditions. The swell energy drops right off too, with values down in the hundreds. There’s a solid 8ft swell on Tuesday the 28th of July, but it’s accompanied by strong onshore winds and a period of 15 seconds – that’s a very long period groundswell, which on a point break can mean some long, lined-up waves, but the wind is going to ruin it. It’s really only for the hardcore, and frankly, the setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing during this stretch.

We get a bit of a gap with no real recommendations through the end of July and into the first days of August.

Now, looking ahead to the second week, there’s a glimmer of hope. Monday the 3rd of August could be worth a look. The morning is small, but the afternoon session is promising. It’s a 6ft swell from the ESE – a bit of a shift in direction – with a period of 12 seconds and a clean cross-offshore wind. The combined energy is strong at 1531. This is another one for the experienced crew, but it’s clean.

Then, Thursday the 6th of August is a real dark horse. The afternoon session has the same 6ft swell from the SW, but the wind is glassy. That’s a major positive. Combined energy is 1118. That’s a rare opportunity for some absolutely perfect, clean lines at Riet River. This is a promising call, but it’s a long way out, so keep your fingers crossed.

The 9th of August Sunday afternoon also looks tidy with a 5ft SSW swell and a gentle cross-offshore wind, offering very good conditions.

So, to wrap it up: the best bet is without a doubt the Saturday morning, 25th of July. If you miss that, keep an eye on the Monday afternoon of the 3rd of August, and that glassy Thursday afternoon on the 6th of August as a promising long-range target.

Rusty.

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