Sandsend Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the cards for Sandsend Bay over the next couple of weeks.

Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you – the next week or so is looking pretty lean. We’ve got a long gap of small, weak surf coming up. For the first few days, from Friday the 4th right through to the middle of the following week, it’s mostly knee-high dribble. The swell is tiny, often under 2 ft, and the energy is just not there. You’ll see those combined energy figures sitting in the low single digits and twenties (like 25), which is barely a ripple. Even when we get a bit of size on Wednesday the 9th, with a 5 ft to 5 ft NW swell, the period is a short, weak 7 to 9 seconds, and the combined energy only gets up to 390 (moderate). It’s labelled as “surfable but very ordinary,” and I’d agree – it’s not worth getting excited about.

The wind is mostly offshore or cross-offshore during this period, which would normally be a massive positive, but there’s just no wave to work with. The water temp is sitting at 61°, which is a touch warmer than average for this time of year, so at least the rubber won’t feel too thick if you’re desperate for a paddle.

Now, the first real glimmer of hope, and honestly the only standout on the whole forecast, arrives on Saturday the 19th. The morning session is where it’s at. We’ve got a solid 8 ft swell from the north, with a period of 8 seconds. That’s a proper sized wave, and it’s packing some serious energy – the combined energy is 959, which is strong. The wind is glassy from the NNW at just 3 mph, making it a near-perfect offshore for Sandsend. The conditions are described as “expect very good surf,” and I’m buzzing just reading it. That’s the one to circle on the calendar. Keep in mind, though, that 8 ft is getting into expert territory, so if you’re not comfortable in that size, maybe sit this one out or watch from the beach.

The afternoon on the 19th sees the wind shift to a cross-onshore, and the swell gets a bit more jumbled, so it’s a morning-only affair.

Other than that, there’s a small run of surf around the 12th and 13th of September, with waist-high waves and clean conditions, but nothing that’s going to make you forget the Saturday the 19th. The long-range stuff around the 16th and 17th has some size (5 ft to 5 ft) and longer periods (11 seconds), but the wind is mostly cross-shore or cross-off, and the quality just isn’t there compared to that standout Saturday.

So, bottom line: the next week and a half is a write-off for decent waves. Hang tight, save your energy, and get ready for that Saturday morning on the 19th. It’s the real deal.

Rusty.

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