Sawtell-The Island Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get into it.

Looks like we’ve got a bit of a slow start, but the back half of this 16-day window is where the real action is gonna be. We’re looking at a gap of nearly a week before things start to turn on, so don’t be in a rush. The water temp is sitting at 67°, which is about average for this time of year, so no surprises there.

The standout session in the whole period is Thursday morning, 20th August at Sawtell-The Island. That morning you’ve got a clean 6ft swell coming from the east with a period of 8 seconds, and the real kicker is the wind – it’s glassy. Absolutely flat calm. That’s a rare treat and will leave the surface looking like a mirror. The combined swell energy is moderate at 473. It’s surfable for the experienced crew, but at 6ft it’s getting a bit meaty for total beginners.

The real power surge lands on Friday morning, 14th August. The Island is going to see a solid 7ft southerly swell, with a period of 9 seconds. That’s a strong push of energy, reading 990 in the combined swell energy – that’s a big number, and it’s going to have some punch. Winds are offshore from the SSW, so the wave faces will be clean. This one is for advanced surfers only; 7ft is plenty of size and will be too much for the less experienced. Expect some crowds here, as it’s a fairly consistent spot.

Another one to circle is Wednesday morning, 19th August. The swell is 6ft from the ESE, period 8 seconds, with a clean cross-offshore breeze from the SW. The combined energy is 543, which is moderate to strong. It’s a good, solid option and the conditions are set to be very good.

The days leading up to these are mostly small and messy. The 9th, 10th, and 11th are all pretty flat or too choppy to bother with. From the 12th onward, we start to see pulses of energy, but it’s not until the 13th that the swell drops in with a 5ft southerly swell, though the wind is going to chop it up in the afternoon.

For the second week, the Monday morning, 24th August is worth a mention. A 4ft easterly swell with a long 11-second period, and clean cross-offshore winds from the SSW. That long period will give the waves some real shape and push, but it might be a bit too lined up for a beach break – better if you can find a bank that handles it. Combined energy sits at 417.

So, the pick of the fortnight is Thursday 20th for the glassy conditions, and Friday 14th for the raw power. Get out there if you can handle it.

Rusty.

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