Sandy Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. Alright, let’s be straight with you: the next 16 days at Sandy Beach are a tough watch for surfers. We’ve got a stretch of messy, wind-affected conditions that’s going to test your patience. The swell is there, but the trade winds are onshore and strong, making a mess of things for most of the period. It’s a classic summer lull where you’ll be chasing a rare window of clean surf.

Sunday the 26th is a write-off. Cross-shore winds at 22 mph and a lumpy, choppy ocean with combined swell energy at 1219 – there’s just nothing to be excited about. Monday the 27th is barely better – still cross-shore winds, 5 ft to 5 ft of swell, but the combined energy climbs to 1306 and 1310, yet the surf is marginal and the wind is still messy.

The first real glimmer comes on Tuesday the 28th. By the morning, the wind swings to a cross-off breeze at 16 mph, and the water turns clean. Swell is 7 ft from the east (13-second period) with combined energy at 1970 – that’s moderate-to-strong energy, and it’s a solid intermediate-skill level. The afternoon sees it push to 8 ft with 2674 combined energy, but the wind picks up to 19 mph. Still, it’s the best day up to this point.

But the standout of the entire forecast, no question, is Wednesday the 29th. Wednesday morning is the one to circle on your calendar. Clear skies, light offshore winds from the north-northeast at 6 mph, and 8 ft of swell from the east-northeast with an 11-second period. Combined energy is strong at 1931. That’s excellent surf for experienced surfers – clean, punchy, and with enough power to make the bank do its thing. The afternoon softens a bit with lighter cross-shore winds and a 10-second period, still 8 ft, but the morning is the real jewel.

After that, the wheels fall off. Thursday the 30th sees the winds shift back to cross and cross-on with short-period 8-second swell at 5 ft to 5 ft – combined energy drops to 517 to 631, and the surf turns poor again. Friday the 31st through Sunday the 2nd of August is a grim stretch of strong breeze cross-shore winds at 22 to 28 mph, with swell pushing 8 ft to 10 ft but all at a short 8 seconds. Combined energy hangs around 1000 to 1400, but the wind is strong and messy – it’s more kite-surfing territory than paddle surfing.

From Monday the 3rd of August through to the end of the forecast on Monday the 10th, we’re stuck in a pattern of poor surf. Onshore wind, moderate to fresh cross-shore, and a combination of short-period and mid-period swell – periods from 7 to 13 seconds, but the direction is relentless east-northeast, and the wind is always at the wrong angle. Combined energy rarely breaks 900, and the surf quality is poor or marginal at best.

So, what’s the call? The one true standout is Wednesday morning, the 29th of July. That’s your clean, offshore window with 8 ft of east-northeast swell for the experienced crew. Tuesday the 28th is a solid backup with cleaner conditions and 7 ft to 8 ft, but the wind is a bit stronger. After that, it’s a long gap of poor surf until the end of the forecast. Hang in there, keep an eye on the charts, and don’t bother paddling out on those windy days – better to wait for the next system to break the pattern.

Stay salty,
Rusty

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