Shipwrecks Bay-Peaks Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. We’ve got a solid run of swell on the cards for Shipwrecks Bay-Peaks, but it’s not for the faint-hearted. The water temp is sitting right around average for the time of year at 61°, nothing unusual there.

The first real action kicks off Friday morning, 10 July. A big 10ft SW groundswell is rolling in with a very long 18-second period, pumping serious energy into the bay (10286). The wind is a fresh offshore from the south, so it’ll be clean. But look, this is a deep-water reef break, and with that size and period, it’s only for the experienced. The waves will be powerful and the sets will be big.

Friday afternoon holds the same size and direction, wind still offshore but easing to a moderate breeze. The swell period drops a second to 17 seconds, energy still strong (5991). Still a heavy, challenging wave.

Saturday the 11th sees the swell ease a touch to 8ft from the SW, period a long 16 seconds. The morning wind is a light cross-offshore from the ESE, keeping things clean. Energy is still very strong (3209). This is a standout window for the experienced crew – big, lined-up waves with clean conditions. Saturday afternoon drops to 5ft with a 18-second period, gentle offshore wind, and clean faces. Easier but still quality.

Sunday the 12th is a beauty. The swell holds around 7-8ft from the SW, period still long at 15-16 seconds, and the wind goes glassy – dead calm in the morning and a slight air in the afternoon. This is the pick of the first week. The wave energy is still strong (2803), and with zero wind, the reef will be offering up some beautiful, smooth lines. It’s still a big wave for a reef, so not a beginner spot.

Monday the 13th the wind turns onshore and the swell drops, so it’s a write-off. Tuesday the 14th has tiny 3-3ft swell with glassy conditions, but it’s too small to get excited about.

Wednesday the 15th brings a return of size – 5ft in the morning jumping to 10ft by afternoon, both from the SW with long periods (17-19 seconds), but the wind is onshore from the north. It’s messy and not worth it.

Thursday the 16th is another standout. The morning is glassy again with a 10ft SW swell, 16-second period, and strong energy (4645). The afternoon stays clean with a 12ft SW swell and cross-offshore wind. This is expert territory, but the conditions are excellent.

Friday the 17th is blown out by strong cross-offshore winds, the swell still big but the wind is too much for a good paddle. This setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing.

The second week from the 18th to the 25th still has plenty of swell – mostly 7ft to 8ft from the SW – with clean to glassy winds on many days. The 19th (Sunday) and 20th (Monday) are particularly good: 8ft SW swell, clear skies, and light offshore or cross-offshore winds. Perfect for the experienced. The 21st sees a shorter period (9 seconds) but still 8ft, so the waves will be a bit more crumbly, but still fun.

From the 22nd onward, the wind gets a bit mixed with some onshore and cross-onshore, and the swell slowly fades. By the 25th, we’re down to 2ft, which is barely worth a paddle.

Best on offer: Sunday 12th and Thursday 16th July. Glassy, big, clean SW groundswell at a reef break that handles it. Not for the faint-hearted, but for the crew that’s ready, it’s going to be magic.

Rusty

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