Rolling Stones Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s coming down the line for Rolling Stones.

Right off the bat, we’ve got a bit of a wait on our hands. The first half of the 16-day window is pretty grim. The good news is that it’s a rocky reef setup, so it can handle some juice, but the wind and swell just aren’t cooperating. The pattern starts off messy and stays that way for a while.

Friday, July 10th, is a write-off. We’ve got a 13ft SSE swell, but it’s 10-second period and pinned with a 22 mph southerly cross-on. That’s just lumpy, onshore chaos. The combined energy is a massive 3496, but with that wind, it’s a washing machine. Not for paddling, maybe interesting for kites.

Saturday, July 11th, the swell drops to 7ft from the SE, but the wind is still cross-on. It’s choppy and messy. The afternoon sees a 6ft SE swell, but the wind swings to a light cross-shore. It’s marginal, but still not worth rushing for.

Sunday, July 12th, the swell drops to 3ft but the period jumps to 15 seconds. That’s a long-period groundswell, which at a reef can offer some nice lines. But it’s small, and the wind is cross-on. The energy is a moderate 695. It’s an “if you’re desperate” kind of day.

Monday, July 13th, through to Thursday, July 16th, the surf is tiny. We’re looking at 1ft to 3ft swell. The highlight of this whole lull is Thursday afternoon, July 16th. We get a 2ft swell, but it’s a 19-second period from the SE, and the wind is glassy. The combined energy is 425, and the report says “expect good surf conditions.” That’s clean, but it’s tiny. A longboard and a patient mindset would be the call.

Then Friday, July 17th, things get ugly again. A 6ft to 6ft SE groundswell (15-16 second period) rolls in, but it’s pinned by a strong 16-22 mph cross-on southerly. The energy is strong at 1697-1726, but it’s just a messy, lumpy onshore blast. Not good for surfing.

Saturday, July 18th, the swell holds at 6ft from the SE with a 14-second period, and the wind lightens up. The morning is a light cross-on, and the afternoon goes light onshore. The energy is still strong (1514-1371), and the conditions are “marginal.” It’s a bit of a gamble but better than the day before.

The second week is quieter. Sunday, July 19th, and Monday, July 20th, see the swell drop off with cross-on winds. Not worth a mention.

Now, here’s the standout. Look at the end of the window. Tuesday, July 22nd, morning. The swell jumps to 7ft from the S, with a 15-second period. The combined energy is a strong 3176. The wind is a light cross-shore from the ENE. That’s a solid, long-period groundswell hitting the reef with clean-enough wind. This is the best on offer. It’s big enough for the advanced crew, and that long period will give it some serious push and power.

Wednesday, July 23rd, is similar but dropping off a bit. Then Thursday, July 24th, we get a 8ft swell from the E, but the period is a short 9 seconds. The wind is cross-off and clean. The energy is 1212. It’s a decent size, but the short period means it will be a bit crumbly and less powerful.

The real dark horse is Saturday, July 25th, afternoon. The swell is 6ft from the E, 9-second period, but the wind is a light cross-off from the north. The energy is 676, and the report says “expect very good surf conditions.” That’s a clean, glassy-ish afternoon with a punchy, if a bit short-period, swell. For a later-in-the-day session, that could be the pick.

So, the best bet is the morning of Tuesday, July 22nd, for proper power and size. The Saturday, July 25th afternoon is a close second for clean conditions. The rest of the window is a mix of waiting and wind.

Rusty, signing off.

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