Shichirigahama Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Righto, let’s have a look at what’s on offer for Shichirigahama over the next couple of weeks. I’ll be upfront with you – it’s a bit of a lean run for a while.

We’ve got a good pulse of energy arriving on Saturday the 11th of July, but the wind is going to wreck it. Saturday morning sees a solid 7ft SSW swell with a very long 16-second period and the combined energy is pumping at 2368 (moderate to strong). But the wind is straight on from the south at 9 mph, so the surface will be chopped. Saturday afternoon gets even worse with a fresh 22 mph southerly. Not one to get excited about.

Sunday the 12th is similar story. Still a decent 6ft SSW swell (16 seconds) in the morning with the combined energy at 1383, but still onshore wind from the SW at 6 mph. It’s rideable if you’re desperate, but it won’t be pretty.

Now, if we fast forward to Monday the 13th, the swell drops right off to 3ft, but look at the wind – a light northerly at 3 mph going offshore in the morning, then glassing out in the afternoon. The waves will be tiny but clean. The energy is weak at 260 and 222. This is about the best we’ll see for a while, but it’s really only for the longboard or the foiler.

From Tuesday the 14th through to about the 23rd, it’s a painful stretch. For over a week, the swell is mostly below 3ft, often in the 0.7ft to 2ft range, with weak energy (down to 13 at one point). Winds are often onshore or light, and many sessions are listed as poor surf conditions. There’s a tiny blip on the 22nd with a 2ft swell from the ESE with a 13-second period and offshore wind from the NE at 16 mph, but the combined energy is only 226, so it’s just a clean but flat little wave.

The standout? Honestly, there isn’t a real standout in this outlook. The best wave quality is the morning of Monday the 13th July – it’ll be clean with offshore wind turning glassy, but the size is tiny (3ft). If you’re a beginner, the swell never gets over 5ft here so it’s all manageable, but there’s just not enough push. Shichirigahama is a river break, and it’s listed as inconsistent, which fits this forecast. For a kiter, the stronger onshore days like Saturday the 11th and 12th might look more interesting than for a paddle surfer.

Water temp is sitting at 75°, which is a bit colder than the norm for this time of year – about a degree off, so nothing too crazy.

Hang in there. Forecasts can change, but for now, it’s a waiting game.

Rusty

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