San Gallan Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, this is a tough one to write, my friends. I’m looking at the charts for San Gallan, and to be honest, it’s a bit of a heartbreaker. This exposed reef break is a spot that can hold some serious power, but the next two weeks are shaping up to be a real test of patience. The water is sitting at a very unusual 70°—that’s much warmer than normal for this time of year, which is a strange feeling. But that’s where the good news ends.

We’re looking at a long dry spell. From now, through the end of July and into the first few days of August, it’s just a persistent run of poor surf. The wind is blowing onshore consistently—mainly from the south and SSE—and while the swell energy is trying to build, it’s all short-period windswell with periods of 6 or 7 seconds. Those aren't waves you paddle out for; they’re just messy, crumbly lines. There’s basically nothing on offer until we get past the first week of August.

Then, things get interesting but messy. Around the 3rd of August, we start seeing a bump in swell energy. By Monday the 3rd, we’ve got 5ft swell from the south with moderate energy (216), and it just grows from there. By Tuesday the 4th, it’s 7ft from the south with 8-second period and moderate wave energy (555). The size is there for the advanced crew but the wind is still blowing straight onshore at 22 mph. It’s going to be a washing machine. This isn't a surf forecast; it’s a windsurfing or kiting forecast. The setup looks far more interesting for kiteboarding than paddle surfing.

The one glimmer in this whole 16-day outlook is the very end of the run, on Sunday the 9th of August. In the afternoon, we finally see a shift. The wind is still onshore from the south at 22 mph, which isn’t perfect, but it’s pushing a 7ft swell from the SSW with a very long period of 15 seconds. That’s proper groundswell, and the combined energy dishes out a whopping 3081. That is serious power. For a reef like San Gallan, the long period will mean long, walling lines. But it's also 7ft with strong winds. This is strictly for experts. It’s 9 days out, so take the specifics with a pinch of salt, but that Sunday is the only day on the horizon that has the makings of a true standout session. Just don’t go expecting perfection. For everything before that, save your petrol.

- Rusty

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