Rye Ocean Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here, lookin’ at what’s on offer for Rye Ocean Beach over the next couple of weeks. Straight up, it’s a bit of a rough start. We’ve got a solid run of south-west groundswell coming through, but the wind is going to mess it up for a while. The first real chance to paddle out doesn’t come until Wednesday, 15 July, and even then, it’s a bit of a mixed bag.

The week kicks off with a big, angry ocean. Sunday the 12th through to Tuesday the 14th, we’re looking at messy, cross-shore howling winds and swell well over 8 ft, heading into the 10-13 ft range. The combined energy is cranked up, with readings like 1974 and even 12725, which is just raw power – but it’s all cross-chop and blown-out. Not worth a look. If you’re into kite surfing, this setup might be your thing, but for a paddle surfer, it’s a no-go.

Then Wednesday the 15th rolls in, and the wind drops. We’ve got an 8 ft SW swell with a 14-second period, clean cross-off wind on the morning, and the comment says wind and tide are favourable. The catch is the swell is still predicted to be a bit too big for the break, but for an experienced surfer, this is the first real window. The energy is still strong at 2837, but it’s cleaner. Thursday the 16th afternoon is a standout: the wind goes glassy, zero wind, with a 7 ft SW groundswell at 15 seconds. That’s a long-period swell, meaning it’s got plenty of energy (2060) and the sets will be spaced out, making it easier to get out. The glassy conditions will make it look like a mirror. That’s the pick of the first week.

Friday the 17th is also a treat, with clean cross-off winds and a 8 ft SW groundswell at 16 seconds (2819 energy). But again, the swell size is a bit much for beginners. Saturday the 18th morning sees the swell drop to 5 ft, still clean, but the energy is down to 816, and the score is marginal. It’s a smaller, cleaner option if you’re not keen on the bigger stuff.

The second week, from Sunday the 19th, it drops right off. Sunday the 19th is a write-off with big N wind and a weak 3 ft swell. The next decent chance comes on Monday the 27th. That’s a full week away, but it’s worth a mention. We’ve got a 7 ft SW groundswell at 14 seconds, with clean cross-off wind and plenty of energy (1919). The water temperature is sitting at 57°F, which is about normal for this time of year, so you won’t need a full wetsuit, but a 3/2 is your friend.

The real standout in the whole 16-day window, though, has to be Saturday the 25th July. Morning: clear 7 ft SW groundswell at 17 seconds, perfectly clean with offshore wind. The energy is 2267, which is serious. The comment says “excellent surf conditions for experienced surfers.” That’s a long-period groundswell, so it’ll be lining up nicely, with long gaps between sets. The afternoon is glassy with a 7 ft SW swell. This is the one to circle on the calendar. Crowds are likely, as it’s a fairly consistent spot, but for that quality, you’ll forgive a few extra heads in the water.

So, to wrap it up: the first few days are a mess. Get in the water from Wednesday the 15th if you’re experienced, but Thursday the 16th afternoon is glassy gold. The absolute best of the lot is Saturday the 25th July – clean, long-period swell, perfect wind. The rest of the second week is smaller and more marginal. Keep an eye on the forecasts, but that Saturday is the one.

Rusty.

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