Sandsend Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, let’s talk about Sandsend Bay. Looking ahead, it’s a real dry spell. The whole 16-day outlook is a bit of a heartbreaker. Water temp is sitting around 60°F, which is a touch warmer than average for the season, so that’s a small comfort for the wetsuit, but that’s about where the good news ends.

We’ve got a wait on our hands. The first few days, starting Tuesday the 14th, the swell is tiny and weak. Waves are around 1 to 3 feet, but the period is short, and there’s a cross-shore wind kicking up a chop. The combined energy is low, barely hitting 80, so it’s more of a paddle than a ride.

From Wednesday the 15th through Thursday the 16th, it gets even smaller, dropping to 1 to 2 feet with periods of 6 seconds. The wind is mostly cross-off or light, keeping the surface clean, but the swell is just too weak to offer anything.

Friday the 17th sees a small bump, with 1 to 3 feet and clean conditions from a cross-off breeze, but the period is still short at 4 to 5 seconds. Not enough to get excited about.

Now, the weekend of the 18th and 19th is the only real pulse in the whole period. Saturday the 18th morning shows 4 feet of swell from the NNE with a 7-second period, and the energy jumps to 167. The wind is clean off the land, so this morning session is the best we’ve seen so far. But by the afternoon, it jumps to 6 feet with a 10-second period (a proper groundswell), and the energy hits 544. The problem? The wind turns cross-onshore and the ocean gets choppy. For a beach break, that’s a messy mix. Honestly, those afternoon conditions would be way better for a kite surfer than a paddle surfer.

Sunday the 19th keeps the size up: 6 feet in the morning, 6 feet in the afternoon, with periods of 8 to 9 seconds and energy readings of 428 and 585. The wind is cross-off in the morning, giving clean waves, but at that size, it’s only for experts. Beginners should stay well clear. That Sunday morning is the standout window if you’ve got the skill and the board for it. Expect crowds, as this spot is often busy.

After that, the swell dies a quick death. From Tuesday the 21st onward, it’s back to tiny, weak surf (1 to 2 feet) with short periods and low energy. The wind stays favorable, keeping the surface clean, but there’s just no power. This flat spell runs all the way to the end of the forecast, with the final days almost completely flat.

So, to sum it up: there’s a long dry gap at the start, a short, powerful spike over the weekend of the 18th-19th, and then nothing. The best call is Sunday morning, the 19th of July. You’ll get 6 feet of swell from the NNE, an 8-second period, and clean offshore winds. It’s the only real chance in the whole 16 days, but it’s a proper one for the experts. Keep your expectations realistic – sometimes the ocean just goes quiet around here. Forecasts can always change for the better, but this stretch looks like a test of patience.

Rusty.

Read more