Sandy Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s be honest, this is a tough one. We’re looking at a solid 16-day window but the first two weeks are pretty much a write-off for Sandy Beach. The setup is a beach and reef, exposed to the open ocean, but the wind is relentless and the sea state is just ugly. You’ll be battling a constant cross-shore wind that’s whipping up a lumpy cross-chop. The swell energy is weak to moderate (values between 94 and 582) for the first week, and even when it pushes higher, the wind spoils it completely. The water is sitting around 79°F which is about average for the time of year, so that’s not the issue.

We start with a gap. From Tuesday the 14th right through to Sunday the 26th of July, every single forecast call is for "poor surf conditions." That’s nearly two weeks of nothing worth paddling for. The winds are cross or cross-on, mostly from the ENE or NE, and they’re stiff – 15 to 22 mph. There’s no offshore wind at all in this whole stretch. The swell is a mix of short period (7 seconds) and long period SSW groundswell, but it doesn’t matter because the surface is chopped to bits. The sets are there, but they’re messy.

Come Monday the 27th of July, we finally see a shift. The forecast upgrades from "poor" to just "marginal." The swell starts building from the E, with combined energy jumping to 1408, which is solid moderate energy. The swell height is 5 ft with a period of 15 seconds – that’s a proper long period groundswell. The problem? The wind is still cross-shore from the ENE at 12 mph. It’s still lumpy, but for the first time, it’s borderline surfable.

The real standout, if you can call it that, is Tuesday the 28th of July. The swell bumps up to 7 ft from the ENE, with a period of 14 seconds. That’s a lot of water moving, and the combined energy hits 2150, which is strong. This is expert territory. Anything over 8 ft is only for the pros, and this is just under that. The wind is still cross from the NE at 15-19 mph, so it’s not clean. For a beach and reef setup like Sandy Beach, a long period swell like this can break a bit straight and won’t be as forgiving. The water is still warm, but the crowds at Sandy Beach are "often" a factor, and with a bit of size, it’ll be busy.

Honestly, for the first two weeks, leave the board at home. The whole forecast is a lesson in why wind is king. The week of the 28th offers a few days of "marginal" surf, but the wind never lays down. If you’re desperate, the 28th morning has the best combo of size and slightly lower wind speed, but expectations should be low. This isn’t a paddle day; it’s more of a kite-surfing setup with that constant cross-breeze. Take it easy, and check back later.

Rusty.

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