Sawtell-The Island Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. Look, I’ll be straight with you – the next couple of weeks around Sawtell-The Island are looking pretty ordinary for most of the run. We’ve got a long stretch of marginal to poor conditions, but there are a couple of windows that’ll get the heart rate up if you’re patient. The main standout is coming right at the end of the period, and it’s a ripper.

We kick off Sunday the 9th of August with nothing doing – cross-on wind, small weak swell (181), and poor conditions. Monday the 10th stays messy with strong cross-breezes. It’s not until Tuesday the 11th morning that we see a clean window: light offshore wind from the WSW at 3 mph, tiny 2ft swell from the ENE at 8 seconds, and glassy conditions in the afternoon as the wind drops to glass. The energy is minimal though (75 to 70), so it’s more of a fun-paddle session than a proper surf.

Wednesday the 12th morning holds glassy, clean 2ft waves (153), but it’s still small and ordinary. Then we go quiet again until Thursday the 13th morning – that’s the first proper flicker. A 5ft SSE swell (303) with light offshore cross-off wind and clean conditions. Solid moderate energy, but it’s a short period (8 secs) so it’ll be a bit fat. The afternoon gets lumpy and messy though.

Friday the 14th morning cleans up again with a 5ft SSE swell (351) and offshore wind, but the period drops to 9 seconds – okay, but not special. After that, we’re into a long run of poor surf through the weekend and into the start of the next week. Winds are mostly cross or gusty, swells are short period and messy.

Now, hold onto your board for the real standout: Saturday the 22nd of August morning. We get a solid pulse of 8ft swell from the ESE at 10 seconds (1065 – that’s strong energy). Light cross-on breeze from the NNE at 6 mph. This is expert territory – 8ft is too much for beginners, and the period is long enough to hold shape. Only issue is the wind is slightly cross-on, so expect some texture. This is the biggest and most energetic swell of the whole outlook. If you’re an experienced surfer, this is your morning.

Sunday the 23rd morning backs off to a clean 6ft from the E (486) with cross-off wind, and the afternoon glass-off is even better – 5ft at 9 seconds, offshore wind from the W at 6 mph, and clean. That’s a solid session for intermediates. Monday the 24th morning holds a clean 6ft E swell at 11 seconds (697) – that’s a long period groundswell, which will reel nicely down the point at The Island. Wind is offshore from the SSW, 9 mph, clean. This is your best bet for quality waves in the second week: chest-to-head high, long lines, clean conditions. Crowds are sometimes an issue here, so get on it early.

Water temp is 68°F, which is 0.4°F below average – normal for August. No dramas there.

So, to sum up: the first week is mostly flat or messy. The two standout windows are Saturday the 22nd morning for big swell (experts only) and Monday the 24th morning for clean, long-period groundswell. Sunday the 23rd afternoon is a good intermediate option too. Everything else is small or blown out.

Rusty.

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