Sandtracks Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, this is Rusty. Let's have a look at what's on the cards for the next couple of weeks.

Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you – it's a tough stretch. The only spot that's got anything on offer is Sandtracks, a reef break that's intermediate territory. The water is sitting at 81°F which is pretty much average for the time of year, so no surprises there.

The whole forecast period is a bit of a grind. We're looking at a solid 16 days of surf, but the quality is just not there for most of it. The wind is a constant problem – it's almost always a cross-shore or cross-onshore breeze, with a lot of lumpy, messy chop. The combined wave energy is usually moderate, sitting in the 100-900 range, but it's just not translating into clean, rideable waves.

For a quick highlight, the best call is Wednesday afternoon, August 5th. That's your standout. The wind goes glassy, absolutely flat calm, and we've got a tiny 3ft swell from the ENE with a period of 9 seconds. The combined energy is weak at 266, but with that glassy surface, you'll get the cleanest little runners of the whole period. It's small, but it'll be fun on a log.

The other moment that's worth a mention is Tuesday morning, August 4th. You've got a 4ft swell from the east with a decent 11-second period, giving a combined energy of 391. The wind is a gentle cross-onshore, so it's a bit choppy, but that longer period means there's some shape there. It's marginal, but it's the best option before that glassy Wednesday.

After that, it's a whole lot of nothing. The wind just never lets up, staying strong and cross-shore pretty much every day. The swell size bounces around, but with the wind, it's all just a mess. The wave energy does spike a few times, like on August 9th morning with 826 from an ENE swell, but it's coupled with a fresh cross-shore and lumpy conditions. It's just not worth paddling out for.

There's a few days with a long-period SSW or S swell, periods of 14-20 seconds, but the wind is always cross-shore or strong, so that energy is just wasted. On August 12th, the energy jumps up to 1034, and on the 13th to 1048, but with 18-25 mph wind, it's just a washing machine. That's more of a kite-surfing setup than a clean paddle session.

Bottom line: if you're desperate, get out on Wednesday afternoon, August 5th, for that glassy window. The rest of the 16 days is a write-off unless you're a masochist who likes straight chop. The forecasts can always change, but right now, it's looking grim.

Rusty.

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