Sandtracks Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, this is Rusty.

First off, looking at the whole 16-day window, it’s a pretty flat and frustrating stretch for Sandtracks. The wind is a constant problem. It’s almost always blowing across the reef from the ENE, which is exactly the wrong direction for this spot; it just keeps things lumpy and messy. There’s energy in the water, but it’s not lining up properly.

The water temperature is sitting at 80°F, which is just a hair above the norm for this time of year, so it’s a comfortable tropical bath.

We’re starting with nothing. The first few days from Sunday the 19th through the 22nd are a write-off. The wind is a fresh 19 mph cross-shore, and the swell is either tiny or a complete mess. The energy is moderate at best, but all that cross-chop makes it unrideable.

Monday the 20th and Tuesday the 21st show a little pulse of long-period groundswell from the south, with periods of 16 and 14 seconds. But the swell is tiny, only 2ft to 3ft, and the wind is still a moderate to fresh cross-shore, so it’s just a choppy, weak mess. The energy is getting up there, but it’s wasted energy.

The real tease comes on Wednesday the 22nd afternoon. The swell jumps to 5ft from the ENE, with a moderate 11-second period, and the combined energy screams up. That’s a lot of power. But the wind is still a fresh 19 mph cross-shore. I’d call this a green, lumpy, and frustrating wave. It’s powerful but ugly.

From Thursday the 23rd through to the end of the month, we see a long-period groundswell from the SSW, with periods of 20 seconds, here and there. That’s a very long period, which is great for a point break or reef, but with a constant fresh cross-wind, it’s just going to be a straight, bumpy wall. The energy is really strong, but the wind never gives us a break. It’s a kite-surfing setup, not a surfing one.

The last week of July and into August is more of the same. The wind stays stuck in the east, blowing cross. The swell fluctuates, but the best of a bad bunch is the morning of Sunday the 2nd of August. The swell is 4ft from the SSW, with a 16-second period, and the wind finally drops to a gentle 9 mph, though it’s cross-onshore, so it’s still a little choppy. The energy is huge. This is the only window that looks sort of doable, but even then, it’s marginal.

Honestly, there’s no standout session here. The wind is the killer. It’s a blank run for the area, and it’s not a huge surprise; sometimes the trades just don’t let up. The only flicker of hope is that Sunday the 2nd of August morning, but keep your expectations low.

Rusty.

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