Sandtracks Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right, grab a coffee, let’s have a look at what’s coming our way for the next couple of weeks at Sandtracks.

To be honest, the start is a bit of a write-off. We’ve got nothing worth paddling out for until around the middle of next week. That’s just how it goes sometimes – the ocean is in a bit of a grumpy mood, with strong cross-shore winds and messy conditions dominating the first week. You’d be fighting a losing battle trying to get a clean one.

The only real standout in this whole 16-day window is shaping up for Sunday, the 16th of August. That morning, the wind swings clean offshore from the north at 9 mph, and we’ve got a solid 6 ft swell arriving from the ENE. The period is a punchy 11 seconds, and the combined energy is way up there at 1984 – that’s proper, strong energy. The water temp is about average for the time of year, so just your usual thin wetsuit or spring suit. Sandtracks is a reef setup, and with a long period swell like that coming out of the ENE, it should line up nicely. This is the morning to be there. The afternoon gets even better: the swell bumps up to 7 ft from the east at 13 seconds, with the energy hitting 2029, and a moderate offshore from the NNW at 12 mph. That’s excellent, heavy surf for experienced surfers only. Beginners, leave this one alone – anything over 8 ft is expert territory, and this is close. It’s going to be a clean, powerful day. Crowds are often a factor here, so expect company.

Before that, Saturday the 15th gives a little glimmer. The morning has 5 ft from the east at 9 seconds with a cross-off shore wind from the ENE at 19 mph. It’s clean, but the swell is short-period, so the waves won’t have much push. The afternoon is slightly better with 6 ft ENE at 10 seconds and a cross-off from the NE. It’s rideable, but nothing like that Sunday.

After the weekend, things drop off quickly. Monday the 17th is messy with cross-on wind, and from Tuesday the 18th onward, the size fades right away. There’s a tiny window on Tuesday afternoon with a glassy 1 ft swell from the SSW, but you’d be lucky to get a wave. The following week is a long, flat stretch of poor conditions with strong cross-shore winds and tiny, weak swell. It’s not worth the drive.

So, it’s a waiting game. Sunday the 16th is your day. The rest is a story of patience.

Rusty

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