Sandsend Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here, and I’ve got the scoop on Sandsend Bay for the next couple of weeks. Let’s be straight with each other – it’s a pretty quiet picture for the most part, but there are a couple of moments that might just get your heart rate up.

The first bit of the window is a flat spell. We’re looking at tiny, weak ripples from the 31st of July through the 3rd of August. The swell is barely there, mostly under 2 ft, and the energy is weak (14). It’s not worth paddling for. You’ll be waiting for something to actually ride.

Things start to stir a little on the 4th of August. The swell picks up to 5 ft from the ENE, but it’s messy. The wind is onshore, and the combined energy jumps to (270) – a decent push, but the conditions are poor. This is more for the experienced crew who don’t mind a bit of chop. Water temps are sitting at 62°, which feels a touch warmer than normal for this time of year.

The 5th of August is the first real standout. The morning brings a cleaner look with a cross-offshore wind from the SSW, and the swell is a manageable 3 ft from the NE. It’s not big, but it’s surfable and the conditions are clean. The energy is low (87), but for a small wave session, it’s the best we’ve seen so far. The afternoon goes glassy with a perfect 2 ft NE swell and a light wind – it’ll be clean and smooth, but still small.

The 11th of August is the one to circle on the calendar. Tuesday afternoon sees a jump in size to 7 ft from the N. The period is 8 seconds, so it’s short-period wind swell, but the energy is pumping (968). That’s a lot of power. The wind is cross-offshore, so it should be reasonably clean. This is big – over 5 ft, so it’s not for beginners, and at 7 ft, it’s getting into expert territory. The swell direction is N, which is a good match for the optimum here (NNE), so Sandsend Bay should handle it well. The morning of the 11th has 5 ft from the NNW but with a cross-shore wind, so it’s not as clean.

After that, the 12th and 13th of August drop back to 4 ft and 3 ft from the N and NNE, with cleaner offshore winds. The 13th morning has a moderate offshore wind from the W, making for clean lines, but the swell is only 3 ft. It’s okay, but not a standout.

The rest of the second week fades out. The 14th and 15th drop to tiny 1.0 ft to 3 ft, with strong offshore winds that will make the surface glassy, but there’s just no wave to push you. The energy drops to (12) or (11) – essentially flat.

Best on offer: The morning of the 5th of August for a clean, small wave session, and the afternoon of the 11th of August for the biggest, most powerful swell of the period. That 11th is the one to chase if you’ve got the skills.

Signing off, Rusty.

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