Sandtracks Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let's take a look at what's on offer for the local stretch.

To be honest, looking at the whole 16-day window, it’s a pretty grim run. Sandtracks is the only break with any data, and the vast majority of the forecast is a write-off. We’re staring down the barrel of a long, dry spell with almost nothing to get excited about. The water temp is sitting at 81°F, which is pretty much spot on average for this time of year, so at least the water feels good even if the waves don't.

Things start off flat and ugly. From Wednesday, August 5th, right through the first week, it’s a mess. We’ve got a moderate cross-shore wind blowing 12 to 22 mph, and the swell is either tiny or totally mismatched. The combined wave energy is moderate at best, but the wave comment is consistently "poor surf conditions". The swell direction is coming from the ENE and SSW, which is the complete opposite of the optimum SSE direction for Sandtracks. That’s a recipe for a choppy, gutless ocean.

We hit a bit of a lull around the 10th and 11th, where the swell height drops to 2ft to 3ft and the energy dips, but it’s still just a cross-shore mess. The comment is "marginal surf forecast", but it’s really not worth paddling out for.

The only time the swell size starts to show some life is from August 12th onwards. The swell height builds to 3ft to 4ft, and the combined energy jumps into the strong range (1009 to 1069), which is a solid pulse of energy. The swell direction shifts to the South, which is a better angle for the spot. But here’s the killer – the wind remains a fresh cross-shore, blowing 19 to 22 mph. It’s going to be lumpy, bumpy, and messy. The wave comment is still "marginal surf forecast" at best, and then it slides right back to "poor surf conditions". It’s close to being something, but the wind just ruins it.

Then it gets worse. From August 14th, the wind picks up to a strong breeze, 25 to 28 mph, and the swell switches to a short-period, 8-second, wind-driven E/ENE swell. The height goes from 4ft to 7ft, and the energy stays strong (813 to 945). But that’s not a good thing. A 7ft, 8-second, onshore windswell is just a washing machine. It’s messy, powerful, and blown out. For an exposed reef like Sandtracks, it’s not going to be a fun paddle. The setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing through this period.

The final days, from August 17th to the 20th, are more of the same: strong, short-period easterly swell with a persistent cross-shore wind. The size drops slightly to 5ft to 6ft, but the quality is just as poor.

The Best of a Bad Bunch:
If you’re absolutely desperate, the morning of Wednesday, August 12th is the closest thing to a standout – and that’s a stretch. The swell is 3ft from the South, with a long 18-second period, and the combined energy is strong (1009). The wind is a moderate cross-shore at 16 mph, which isn't clean, but it’s the best window we get. The water is clear, and the South swell direction is the best match for the spot. Still, it’s a "marginal" call at best.

Other than that, there’s nothing. It’s a long, blank run. With the break being "fairly consistent" normally, this is a poor stretch. Don’t hold your breath; forecasts can change, but this one looks stubborn.

Rusty.

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