Sandy Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right, grab a coffee, ‘cause it’s a quiet one for Sandy Beach. We’re looking at a solid 16-day window, but honestly, there’s nothing to rush out for. The first proper surf shows up on Friday afternoon, July 31st, but it’s a mess. The wind is howling from the ENE at 25 mph, ripping straight across the face, making for a lumpy, cross-chop nightmare. The swell is a hefty 8 ft from the east, but with a short, weak 8-second period, it’s all churn and no shape. The water’s a warm 80°F, which is about average for this time of year, but that’s the only nice thing I can say.

We’ve got a long stretch of nothing. The whole of the first week is a write-off – that same strong cross-shore wind keeps blowing right through to August 5th. The wave energy is moderate (1172), but it’s all wind-slop, not surf. The swell drops a bit but the wind stays on it, making it messy for days.

The first sign of something different comes on Tuesday, August 4th. The period jumps to 11 seconds, and the swell eases to 5 ft from the ENE. It’s still a cross-shore wind, but a lighter 12 mph. The forecast calls it marginal, and I’d agree. The wave energy is moderate (576), but with that cross-shore breeze, it’s still going to be choppy. Not a standout, just a slight improvement.

The one flicker of hope appears on Sunday, August 9th. The swell direction flips to a long-period SSW groundswell of 18 seconds, but the height is a tiny 2 ft. The wind is still a cross-shore fresh breeze from the NE, so the wave energy is moderate (505), but it’s a long-period swell hitting a beach break. Long-period swells on a beach like this tend to break too straight, and with the wind all over it, it’s not going to be a day for the beginners. The same small, long-period SSW swell hangs around through Monday, August 10th and Tuesday, August 11th, but the wind doesn’t let up, and the wave heights are just too small to get excited about.

The run continues through the second week. More cross-shore wind, more short-period ENE swell, but the forecasts are all "poor surf conditions". The wave energy stays moderate, peaking at 725 on the morning of Wednesday, August 12th, but it’s still 5 ft of messy, cross-shore junk. The wind is relentless.

The only real change is a few more long-period S swells sneaking in around August 13th and 14th, but again, they’re small (3 ft) and the wind is a strong cross-shore. The wave energy is moderate (570), but it’s not a surfer’s wave.

The whole 16-day window is a total blank. There isn’t a single day where the wind cleans up and the swell has any quality. This is a full-on, flat and windy spell for Sandy Beach. The setup is more interesting for a kite surfer than a paddle surfer – the strong, consistent cross-shore wind and the lumpy wave energy is right up their alley. For us, it’s a time to rest the arms and watch the forecast. Things can change, but right now, it’s a long, quiet stretch. Stay patient.

Rusty.

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