Sandtracks Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Well, I'm gonna level with you—this is a tough stretch for Sandtracks (reef). The whole 16-day window is looking pretty bleak, so don't expect much. The water's sitting at a warm 82°F with a slight anomaly of 1°F, so it's about average for this time of year.

We kick off Friday, August 14th, with a small 4ft south swell (14-second period) and a fresh cross-shore wind from the ENE at 19 mph. The wave energy is moderate at 819, but it's lumpy and messy—zero chance of a good wave. That same pattern sticks around Saturday, but by Sunday the 16th, things get ugly: a 12ft easterly swell (9-second period) hits with a strong cross-onshore wind at 28 mph and rain. That's a lot of energy (2160) but it's a complete mess—only for the hardcore, and even then, it's not worth it. Sunday afternoon eases to 6ft, still cross-shore, and it's barely marginal.

Monday the 17th through Wednesday the 19th is a write-off: tiny south swells under 3ft, cross-shore winds, and poor surf quality. There's a brief glimmer on Thursday, August 20th, with a 2ft southwest swell at a very long 18-second period and moderate energy (568), but the wind is still cross-shore and it's only marginal. The same goes for Friday the 21st and Saturday the 22nd—small, short-period, onshore winds, and barely a score of 1 out of 10.

From Sunday, August 23rd, all the way through Thursday, August 28th, it's more of the same: tiny swells, messy winds, and poor surf. The only standout—and I'm using that term loosely—is on Thursday, August 27th, when we get a 4ft easterly swell with a very long 18-second period and moderate energy (1691) in the morning, with a moderate cross-shore breeze. The afternoon drops to a gentle breeze, giving us a score of 3 out of 10—still marginal, but the cleanest it's been all week. That's a reef break, so the long period (18 seconds) might actually wrap in nicely, but the swell is small.

Finally, on Saturday, August 29th, in the afternoon, we get a 3ft easterly swell (14-second period) with a light cross-offshore wind from the NE. The energy is moderate (769), and the conditions are clean. It's the best of the whole run, but it's still a very small day. The crowds are often here, so expect company.

Honestly, this is a 16-day stretch with almost nothing to offer. The few marginal days aren't worth the paddle. If you're desperate, August 27th afternoon or August 29th afternoon are your only shots, but keep expectations low.

Rusty.

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