Shelley Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s get into it. It’s Rusty here, and I’ve been staring at the charts for your stretch of coast. The next couple of weeks are a mixed bag, but we’ve got a few windows where it’ll be well worth paddling out.

We start off with a bit of a lull right now, but the first real action kicks off on Saturday, August 1st. Shelley Beach is the spot to look at, and it’s showing some promise. Saturday morning, we’ve got a solid 5ft SSE swell rolling in with a 9-second period. The wind is a light cross-off from the west, which will keep the faces clean. The water temp is sitting at 65°, which is pretty much bang on average for this time of year. The combined swell energy is a moderate 396 – there’s enough push to get you moving. Expect some fun, clean waves. Saturday afternoon, the wind swings onshore and the quality drops, so make it a morning session.

Then, Sunday, August 2nd is the real standout of this first week. Sunday morning is looking prime. The swell drops to 5ft, but it’s a clean SSE groundswell with a lovely 11-second period. The energy jumps to a solid 719 (moderate/strong). The wind is a light cross-off from the NNE. It’s going to be clean, lined-up, and have some proper push. This is the session to circle. The afternoon gets messy with a strong cross-shore, so get in early.

Monday, August 3rd is worth a mention. The swell drops to 3ft from the SE, but the period is a nice 11 seconds again. The wind is offshore from the NW. It’ll be clean, but smaller. Good for a grovel board or a longboard to get a few easy ones. The energy is a moderate 246.

After that, the surf takes a real dive. From Tuesday the 4th through to Friday the 7th, we’ve got a prolonged flat spell with tiny, weak waves, poor wind, and generally messy conditions. It’s a bit of a write-off for a few days.

Things start to look interesting again on Saturday, August 8th. The morning is glassy – zero wind – with a 4ft SSE swell. The period is a short 8 seconds, so it won’t have the same punch, but with glassy conditions, it’ll be a fun, clean session. The energy is a weak 166, so it’s small, but the lack of wind makes it worthwhile for a quiet paddle.

Sunday, August 9th morning is another decent call. The swell picks up to 4ft from the SSE with a 9-second period. The wind is a light cross-off from the north. It’s clean and the energy is a moderate 281. It’s not a world-beater, but it’s good surf.

Now, be warned. From Monday, August 10th, the wind really cranks up. We’re looking at 30 km/h (19 mph) offshore winds, which might sound good, but the swell is short-period and a bit wonky. The energy is moderate to strong (459-591), but the wind is fresh and the conditions are marginal. This is more of a kite-surfing setup than a clean paddle surfing day.

The biggest swell of the forecast shows up Thursday, August 13th and into Friday, August 14th. Thursday afternoon brings a 10ft SE swell with a short 8-second period. The energy is a very strong 1209. This is too big for most folks, and the wind is a moderate cross-shore, creating a chop. This is expert-only territory, and even then, it’s messy. Friday morning is similar, with a 10ft ESE swell and a very strong 1222 energy. Again, only for the very experienced, and it’s going to be a battle.

The final week, from the 15th and 16th, sees strong winds and big, lumpy swell. The energy is through the roof (over 1000), but the wind is a strong cross or cross-onshore, making it a total mess. The waves are big, but the quality is poor. Not a good time for a paddle.

So, to sum it up: Sunday morning, August 2nd is the absolute best bet of the whole outlook. Get out there early for clean, 5ft SSE groundswell with a nice 11-second period. Saturday morning, August 1st is a solid second choice. The rest of the window is a mix of flat spells, onshore wind, or swell that’s too big and messy for a good time.

Stay safe, and keep your eyes on the horizon.

Rusty

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