Sawtell-The Island Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Righto, let’s have a look at what’s shaping up for Sawtell over the next couple of weeks.

First up, water temp is sitting at 68°, which is pretty much bang on average for this time of year, so no surprises there.

The next few days are gonna be a bit of a struggle. We’ve got small, weak swell – around 2ft to 3ft – with periods mostly under 10 seconds, so it’s lacklustre. The energy is low too (115 to 182). Friday the 7th starts glassy but with tiny SSE swell, just surfable but nothing to get excited about. Saturday morning the 8th cleans up a bit with a light cross-off, but the swell is still small and short-period. Sunday the 9th gets messy with a fresh onshore breeze, so forget it. Monday the 10th sees a cleaner window with a cross-off, but the swell is still anaemic. Tuesday the 11th morning goes glassy again with only 2ft – barely worth paddling out for. Wednesday the 12th is a write-off with onshore winds. Thursday the 13th afternoon finally shows some life: moderate offshore wind from the SW and a jump in energy to 297, with 4ft of S swell at 10 seconds – that’s more like it, but still ordinary.

Now, the standout. Friday the 14th – mark it. Morning glassy conditions with a clean cross-off. Swell jumps to 6ft from the SSE, period stretching to 13 seconds, and the energy is pumping at 1121. That’s proper groundswell, and it’s gonna be clean and powerful. This is for experienced surfers only – over 5ft and it’s a step up. The Island can handle it, but it’ll be a handful. Afternoon goes cross-on, so the morning is the window.

The rest of the second week is a bit of a mixed bag. Saturday 15th has a clean morning but the swell drops a bit, and the wind picks up later. Sunday 16th gets fresh and lumpy. Monday 17th into Tuesday 18th is all rain showers and fresh wind – not worth it. Wednesday 19th morning has a solid 7ft but the swell is short-period (8 seconds), so it’s gonna be fat and messy, maybe more for the kite crowd.

But then – Thursday 20th morning, glassy again, with 7ft of E swell at 10 seconds, energy at 806 – that’s a very good session. And Friday 21st morning is the real big one: 8ft of E swell, 13-second period, glassy conditions, energy at 1766. That’s a serious, powerful groundswell – only for experienced surfers, and it’ll be big, clean, and lined up. The Island is a reef, so it’ll handle that long period nicely. The morning is the only time, as the wind swings onshore in the afternoon. Saturday 22nd morning is still good with 6ft and glassy, but a step down.

So, the best on offer is the morning of Friday 14th for a solid, clean groundswell, and the morning of Friday 21st for the biggest, most powerful swell of the whole period. Both are for advanced surfers only. Crowds are sometimes a factor at The Island, so expect company on those days.

Rusty

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