Sandsend Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get into what we’ve got coming down the line.

Honestly, the outlook for Sandsend Bay is a bit of a slow burn. We’re looking at a lot of small, weak surf with onshore or cross-onshore breezes for the better part of the first week, so don’t expect much to write home about. There’s a real dry spell from now until around the 18th where the energy just isn’t there, and most of what we do see is blown out or just too small to bother with.

The water temperature is sitting at a warm 62°F for the start, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year. That’s a nice little bonus if you do decide to paddle out on a flat day.

Alright, let’s run through the few moments that might be worth a look. The first real stand-out window shapes up around Wednesday the 19th. We’ve got a pulse of swell coming in, with the morning showing 5 ft from the north on a short 7-second period. The wind is light and from the southwest, keeping it clean. The combined energy is moderate at (229), so it’s got a bit of push. It’s not perfect—period is short, so it’ll be a bit crumbly—but for a stretch that’s been dead, it’s the best we’ve seen. The afternoon gets a bit tricky with rain and a stronger offshore wind, but if you’re keen, that morning session is your best bet.

Looking further out, the swell really starts to build. Saturday the 22nd and Sunday the 23rd are the real headline acts. Saturday afternoon sees a solid 8 ft north swell with a period of 8 seconds, and the combined energy is pumping at (744). That’s strong energy, and it’ll be powerful. However, the wind is cross-onshore from the northeast, so expect some chop on the face. This is expert territory—over 8 ft is big and demanding. If you’re a seasoned local, it’s got grunt, but the conditions won’t be perfect. Sunday the 23rd is a bit smaller at 6 ft from the north-northeast, still a strong (585) on the energy scale, and lighter winds from the northeast keep it cleaner but still onshore. It’s a similar story: plenty of power, but the wind is a bit of a bummer.

Because of the onshore wind and the heavy, powerful swell hitting a fairly exposed beach-and-reef setup, this might honestly be more interesting for the kite crowd than us paddle surfers on those bigger days. The shape will be tricky.

The crowds at Sandsend Bay can be often, so on that Sunday the 23rd, expect a crew out there for the size.

So, to sum it up: if you can wait, Wednesday the 19th morning is your cleanest window for a fun, if short-period, ride. For the big-wave hunters, Saturday the 22nd afternoon and Sunday the 23rd have the grunt, but you’ll be battling a bit of a bump. It’s a quiet start, but the second week shows promise.

Stay frothy,
Rusty.

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