Sandy Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you – Sandy Beach is going to be a tough one for the next 16 days. The entire forecast window is plagued by a persistent cross-shore wind, mostly from the ENE, and it’s blowing a fresh breeze. That means the surface is going to be lumpy and cross-chop, making for some pretty ordinary conditions. The water temp is sitting at 80°F, which is about average for this time of year, but the onshore energy is just ruining the shape.

We’ve got a blank run for the first week. From Sunday the 19th right through to Friday the 25th of July, every session is rated as poor surf conditions. The wind is relentless, and the swell is messy. For the first few days, the swell is coming from the ENE with a short period of 8 seconds, so it’s weak and choppy. The combined energy is moderate, around 425 to 535, but it’s just not going to be any fun. The kite surfers might have a field day with that wind, but for paddle surfing, it’s a write-off.

Come Saturday the 26th of July, we start to see a shift. The conditions bump up to “marginal” – still not great, but there’s a glimmer of hope. The swell direction swings to the E and the period stretches out to a nice long 16 seconds. That’s proper groundswell energy. The combined energy jumps to 1513, which is strong. The problem is that wind is still hammering it from the NE at 15 to 18 mph, keeping it lumpy. This swell is better suited for a point or a reef break, but at a beach and reef setup like Sandy Beach, that long period will make it break a bit too straight.

The weekend of the 26th and 27th is the best on offer, but it’s only a marginal call. You’ll find waves around 4 ft to 5 ft from the E with that long period, but the cross-shore wind will keep it challenging. The crowd situation here is listed as “often,” so you won’t be alone. If you’re desperate for a paddle, those are the days to try, but don’t expect perfection.

Into the second week, from the 28th of July onward, the swell picks up a bit of size, with heights hitting 7 ft from the ENE on the 28th and 29th. The period drops to 12-13 seconds, so it’s still a solid groundswell, and the combined energy is strong at 1523. But the wind is still the enemy. It’s a fresh cross-shore, so the surface is always lumpy. The forecast is less certain out this far, but it’s not looking promising. By the 30th and 31st, we’re back to poor conditions with the swell dropping off.

The very end of the window, on the 2nd and 3rd of August, we get a slight reduction in wind speed, down to a gentle breeze on the morning of the 2nd, with a 4 ft SSW swell and a very long period of 16 seconds. The combined energy is strong at 1464, and the wind is only cross-on at 9 mph. This is the closest we get to a clean session, but it’s a long way out and the trend has been poor. For now, it’s a maybe.

Overall, Sandy Beach is a hard pass for most of the next 16 days. The swell is there, but the wind is cruel. If you absolutely have to get wet, aim for the morning of the 2nd of August, but keep your expectations low.

Rusty

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