Rolling Stones Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. Alright, we’ve got a solid run of surf on the horizon here at Rolling Stones, though it’s gonna take a bit of patience before we see the real magic. The early part of the week is a bit of a mixed bag, but there’s a couple of standout windows that are worth marking on the calendar.

We kick things off on Wednesday, July 22nd, with some clean, glassy conditions. The morning session is looking sweet with a 4ft swell from the south, a 12-second period, and glassy conditions. The water is sitting at 55°, which is a bit colder than normal for this time of year, so you’ll want a decent wetsuit. The combined energy is moderate (529), and the waves are clean and rideable. The afternoon holds similar vibes, still glassy, with a slightly smaller 4ft south swell. A solid, if unspectacular, start to the period.

Thursday the 23rd is a downshift. We’ve got a 3ft south swell in the morning, dropping to 2ft in the afternoon, with a cross-off breeze. Clean, but small. The energy drops significantly (213 then 130). It’s surfable, but you’ll be working for the fun ones.

Then we hit a dry spell. From Friday the 24th right through to the end of the month, the conditions get messy. Friday the 24th is tiny and weak, with a 1ft south swell. Saturday the 25th brings a 3ft east swell, but the wind is a problem. By Sunday the 26th, the swell picks up to 6ft, but it’s a short-period (8 seconds) south swell, and the wind is onshore. The energy jumps to 832, but the quality is poor. Monday the 27th and Tuesday the 28th get even bigger, with 8ft to 12ft south swell, but the wind is howling from the southwest at 19 mph, creating a lumpy, cross-shore mess. The energy is high (1620 to 4105), but it’s not for surfing. It’s a beach setup, and with that much wind, kite surfers would be having a field day.

Now, here’s where it gets interesting. Wednesday, July 29th is the first real standout. The morning brings a clean 8ft southeast swell with a long 13-second period, and a light offshore wind from the NNW. This is proper groundswell energy, and the conditions are glassy. The combined energy is strong (2443). This is excellent surf, but at 8ft, it’s only for experienced surfers. The afternoon holds with a 8ft ESE swell, still clean and offshore. This is the best quality on offer in the entire forecast.

Thursday the 30th is still good in the morning, with a 6ft ESE swell, 11-second period, and a moderate offshore. The energy is still solid (829). The wind shifts onshore in the afternoon, which spoils it.

After that, we get another grumpy period. Friday the 31st and Saturday the 1st of August are wind-affected and messy. Sunday the 2nd and Monday the 3rd of August see a massive, blown-out swell arrive, with 13ft to 20ft south swell, and strong onshore winds. The energy is through the roof (up to 9440), but it’s a total washout for surfing. That’s kite-surfing territory, not paddle-surfing.

The second standout window comes on Wednesday, August 5th. The morning delivers a clean 6ft ESE swell, 11-second period, with a glassy offshore wind from the NNW. The energy is moderate (1093), and the conditions are very good. The afternoon holds similar quality with a 6ft ESE swell. This is a much more manageable size for a wider range of skill levels, and the clean, offshore wind will make it hollow and fun.

Thursday the 6th of August is the last day of the forecast, with a smaller 5ft south swell in the morning, still clean, and a 4ft ESE swell in the afternoon. A solid finish to the run.

So, to wrap it up: the best bets are Wednesday, July 29th for the big, powerful, expert-only stuff, and Wednesday, August 5th for a more accessible, high-quality session. Get in the water on those days.

Rusty.

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