Sandtracks Surf Forecast and Surf Report

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

Overall, it’s a bit of a mixed bag. We’ve got a decent pulse of swell coming through, but the wind is going to be a persistent problem for most of the period. The opening few days are a write-off with strong cross-shore winds making a mess of things. The real standout is a very specific window right at the end of July and into the start of August that looks like the only time to really get excited.

Alright, let’s start with Sandtracks. It’s a reef break, fairly consistent, and it’s exposed to the swell. The water is sitting at 80°F, which is about normal for this time of year, so no need to dig out the thick wetsuit.

The first session worth even looking at isn’t until the morning of Tuesday the 28th of July. We’ve got a 6ft swell coming from the east with a 13-second period, and the wind is a cross-offshore breeze from the NE. The wave energy is moderate (1327). It’s clean, but it’s only a marginal call. The swell pushes up to 7ft in the afternoon, still with that clean cross-off wind, and the energy bumps up a bit (1838). That’s getting a bit punchy for beginners, but it’s still not the real highlight.

Then we get to the morning of Wednesday the 29th of July. This is the one. The wind goes glassy – absolute perfection – swinging around from the SSW at just 3 mph. The swell is a solid 6ft from the ENE with an 11-second period, giving it good shape and energy (1075). The conditions are described as excellent for experienced surfers, which is spot on. This is a proper groundswell and the reef at Sandtracks should handle it well. The glassy conditions will make for some of the cleanest waves you’ll see in this forecast. Get on it.

The afternoon of the 29th still has some surf, but the wind turns cross-shore, so it’s not as good.

After that, things get a bit shaky. The 30th of July has a tiny 3ft swell from the south, but the Thursday afternoon is glassy again, so if you’re desperate for a longboard session, there’s a tiny chance. The wave energy is weak (605).

From the 31st of July right through to the 8th of August, it’s a pretty grim run. The wind is almost constantly a strong cross-shore from the east or ENE, gusting up to 25 mph, turning the surf into a lumpy, choppy mess. The swell heights are all over the place, from 2ft to 7ft, but with that wind, it’s not worth paddling out. The period drops to 8 seconds on a few days, which is short-period windswell, offering no real power. This kind of setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing.

There is a glimmer on the 5th of August with a 5ft swell from the ENE, but the wind is still cross-onshore, so it’s not a clean option.

The one true standout is that Wednesday morning, the 29th of July. Glassy conditions, solid 6ft groundswell, and a reef break that can handle it. That’s your window. The rest of the run is a battle against the wind.

Rusty.

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