Sandtracks Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s get into it. This is Rusty.

Gotta be straight with you – the next 16 days are a tough stretch for Sandtracks. It’s a reef setup that can be decent, but the wind is just relentless out of the east-northeast, straight cross-shore, and it’s messing up everything. The water is warm, sitting at 82°F with a near-normal anomaly of plus 1°F, so at least you won’t be cold.

We start with Monday the 24th of August. Nothing doing. Swell is tiny at 2ft from the SSW, period at 14 seconds – groundswell potential but with that cross-shore wind, it’s a lumpy chop. No score. This pattern keeps rolling through the week. Swells come and go from the E, S, and SSW, heights bouncing between 2ft and 5ft, but every session is ruined by that cross-wind. On Wednesday morning the 26th, the combined energy jumps to 656 (moderate), but it doesn’t matter – the waves are poor.

Thursday the 27th morning is the first glimmer – swell at 4ft from the S, period 17 seconds, groundswell with good shape potential. The combined energy is 964, a strong moderate push. But the wind is still cross-shore at 16 mph, leaving it marginal. It’s the best on offer in the first week, but only just. Confidence is low – that wind won’t let up.

Then we hit a gap. From Friday the 28th through the end of August, it’s all poor conditions. The same story: cross-shore winds, lumpy surf. Not worth paddling out.

Finally, Monday the 31st of August shows a bit of hope. Swell hits 5ft from the east-northeast, period 8 seconds – short period, windswell. The wind drops to 9 mph in the morning, still cross-shore, but gentler. Combined energy sits at 616. This is the standout of the whole run. Even so, it’s only marginal. The break is fairly consistent, but with the wind direction the way it is, expect a slight cross-chop and short, mushy lines. Crowds are often here, so you won’t be alone. If you’re going, Monday morning is your window.

After that, Tuesday the 1st of September through the 8th of September is a dead zone. Swells stay small to medium, but the wind cranks back up – 19 to 25 mph cross-shore every day. By Tuesday the 8th, the swell drops to 2ft from the SSW, period 19 seconds – long-period groundswell, but it’s weak and the wind is a strong breeze, messy and ugly. Combined energy is 619, but it’s a write-off.

Honestly, if you’re a beginner, none of this is for you – sizes stay under 6ft so it’s not dangerous, but the conditions are rough. For the experienced, the only half-decent session is Monday the 31st morning. After that, nothing stands out. This is a long, flat, windy stretch.

Rusty.

Read more