Saint Annes Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right, listen up. Rusty here. Let's have a look at what's on the cards for Saint Annes. Straight up, this is a real test of patience. We've got a long, drawn-out run of average to poor conditions before we finally see a bit of light.

The first recommendation comes in on Sunday, July 5th. But don't get your hopes up just yet. The swell's there, around 3ft from the SSW with a long 18-second period, and the wave energy is in the moderate range (553). But the wind is a cross-on from the WNW, and the file says the conditions are poor. That pretty much sums up the next week. It's frustrating because there's a long-period groundswell trying to do its thing, but the wind is just chopping it all up. The energy picks up to a strong 833 on Monday morning, but the cross-shore wind still makes it a messy affair.

We get a little flicker of hope on the morning of Friday, July 10th. The wind swings around to a light offshore from the SW, with a 3ft SSW swell at 16 seconds. The wave comment says it's still marginal, but that's the best we've seen in days. The wave energy is moderate (734). If you're keen, that Friday morning session is the pick of a pretty ordinary first week, but keep your expectations in check.

Now, after that, the long slog continues. From Saturday the 11th right through to the middle of the next week, it's a lot of crummy cross-onshore winds and poor surf. There are a few days with bigger swell, like 8ft on the afternoon of Wednesday, July 8th, but that's from a short-period, 8-second WNW windswell with a fresh cross-shore wind. That's messy, lumpy, and not worth a paddle. The energy gets up there, with readings over 1500, but it's all noise and no shape.

Finally, we get to the standout session. Look at Sunday afternoon, July 19th. The wind goes glassy, coming from the WSW. The swell is a clean 6ft from the WNW, with a period of 8 seconds. The wave comment calls it "expect good surf conditions." You bet. After all that chop and cross-breeze, a glassy afternoon with chest-to-head high waves is the best we've got. The energy is strong (929). This is your window. The water temp is about average for the time of year, no major anomaly to report.

The last day, Monday morning, July 20th, still has some potential with a 6ft WNW swell and a light offshore, but it's back to "marginal" status. Probably still surfable, but not the same quality as that glassy Sunday arvo. Don't forget, Saint Annes is a reef break, so it'll handle that longer-period swell better than the beachies would, but for the first week, the wind just kills it.

So, the call: Wait it out. That glassy Sunday afternoon on July 19th is your one true standout. Everything else is a compromise. Hang in there.
Rusty.

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