Sandy Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you about what’s on the table for Sandy Beach. We’ve got a long stretch ahead, but it ain’t looking pretty for a while.

We’re looking at a solid gap of surf that just isn’t worth paddling out for. From Wednesday 8 July right through to the end of the month, the conditions are locked into a pattern of strong cross-shore winds. The swell is coming in from the ENE, which is cross to the break, and it’s creating a lumpy, messy cross-chop that’s just no fun. The wave heights are sitting around 5 ft to 7 ft, but the period is short—only 7 to 8 seconds—so the waves are weak and crumbly. The combined energy is moderate, ranging from 294 to 709, but with that wind, it’s all just a washing machine. The water temp is about 79°F, which is pretty normal for this time of year. So, for the first ten days, there’s nothing to get excited about.

Then, on Saturday 18 July, things get a bit bigger. The swell bumps up to 8 ft in the morning and 10 ft in the afternoon, with the energy jumping to 1134 and 1511, respectively. But the wind switches to a cross-onshore, and the wave comment is still “poor surf conditions.” This is big, unruly, and messy—only for the experts, and even then, it’s a chore. The period is still short at 8-9 seconds, so it’s just a lumpy, blown-out mess.

The best of a bad lot, and I mean the only spot that even gets a sniff of a recommendation, comes in the final few days. On Tuesday 21 July, we finally see a shift. The morning still has a cross-shore wind and a 6 ft swell at 8 seconds, but it’s a marginal call. The real standout is the afternoon of 21 July. The swell drops to 3 ft, but the period jumps to 18 seconds—that’s a proper, long-period groundswell coming from the east. The energy is still high at 1012, and the wind drops to a moderate 16 mph from the NE, still cross-shore, but lighter. The wave comment is “marginal surf forecast.” This is a glimmer. The long period (over 15 seconds) means it will have that clean, powerful shape, but at a beach break like Sandy, it can break a bit too straight. Still, it’s the cleanest looking option in the whole window.

The next morning, Wednesday 22 July, holds a similar story: 4 ft swell from the east at 15 seconds, with 1072 energy, but the wind is back up to 22 mph cross-shore, making it lumpy again. The afternoon of 22 July and the 23rd drop off to small, weak, and messy.

So, what’s the call? The only true standout is Tuesday 21 July afternoon. It’s the only time the wind drops and the period gets long. It’s a gamble, but if you’re desperate, that’s your window. The rest of the month is a write-off for surf. The setup is more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing, honestly.

Stay patient, and check the forecasts again. Things can change.

Rusty.

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