Sandtracks Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G'day, I'm Rusty. Let me tell you about the outlook for Sandtracks, lookin' straight down the barrel at the next couple weeks. Honestly, it's a bit of a tough stretch for paddle surfing here.

Right from the get-go on Thursday, 23 July, we're in for a rough time. The wind is pumpin' out of the ENE at a solid 22 mph, and it's blowin' cross-shore, which is just choppin' everything up. We've got a bit of swell, about 3 ft from the SSW, but the combined energy is massive at 1124 – it's strong, but that cross-chop means poor surf conditions. The water's at 80°F, about average for the time of year, but you won't care about that when you're gettin' blown off your board. This pattern sticks with us straight through the weekend and into Monday, 27 July. The swell direction shifts around, but that fresh cross-shore wind just doesn't let up, leaving the surface lumpy and uninviting.

We finally get a small break in the wind on Tuesday, 28 July. The breeze drops to a moderate 12-16 mph from the NE, and it turns cross-offshore, cleanin' things right up. The swell bumps up to 5 ft from the ENE with a period of 12 seconds – that's a decent groundswell with some shape to it. The energy's still hefty at 993 to 1018. This is the only real window where you might get a few half-decent ones. It's a reef break and fairly consistent, but just a heads up – it's often crowded, so expect some company. Still, if you can paddle out Tuesday morning or afternoon, that's your best bet in this whole run.

It goes downhill fast after that. Wednesday, 29 July, brings a risk of thunderstorms, onshore SE wind at 16 mph, and the whole thing just falls apart. From there, it's a grim stretch of days. The wind stays crankin' out of the ENE, mostly fresh to strong breeze, and the swell never really locks in. There are a few moments, like the morning of Monday, 3 August, where we see 3 ft from the E with a long 16-second period – combined energy of 1090 – but the cross-shore wind chops it up. Another little glimmer on Tuesday afternoon, 4 August, when the wind turns cross-offshore from the NE at 9 mph with a clean face, but the swell is only 3 ft from the ENE. These are just fleeting, marginal moments.

Lookin' at the bigger picture, this spot is a reef, and with the wind mostly cross or onshore, and the swell quality low, it's a tough slog. If you're a kite surfer, that constant strong cross-shore wind and the solid energy readings (like over 1000) might look tasty for you. For the rest of us on a paddle board, Tuesday the 28th is your day. After that, the forecast is a mess of poor conditions and cross-chop right out to the end of the window on Friday, 7 August. Keep an eye on it – forecasts can change, and it never stays bad forever.

Rusty.

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