Shipwrecks Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, this is Rusty. Let's have a look at what's on the cards for the next couple of weeks.

Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you – it's a grim start. The surf's been absolute rubbish to kick things off and it's gonna stay that way for a while. We're looking at a solid stretch of nothing good, with the first real chance of a wave not coming until the weekend of the 26th and 27th of July. Even then, it's not exactly gonna be pumping.

The main spot we've got to look at is Shipwrecks, a reef and point break. The water is sitting at a warm 86°F, which is *much* warmer than normal for this time of year, so you won't be needing a thick wetsuit, that's for sure.

Here's how it shakes out. The 23rd and 24th are write-offs. Thursday the 23rd has a tiny 2ft swell from the SSW, but it's onshore, and the wave comment is "poor surf conditions". Friday the 24th is similar, with a bit more wind. Saturday the 25th starts to see a little bump in size, but the wind is cross-onshore and the conditions are marginal at best. The real frustration comes on Sunday the 27th of July. The swell pumps up to 8ft from the SSE, with a period of 14 seconds and a combined wave energy of 2947, which is strong. But the wind is onshore and the report says "marginal surf forecast". It's a tease.

The 28th and 29th of July see even bigger swell, hitting 13ft from the S with a period of 14 seconds and a combined energy of 6221 – that's a ton of water. But the wind is atrocious. On the 29th, we're talking 43 mph onshore winds and gale-force conditions. The entire setup is completely blown out. For a beach and reef spot like this, that's more kite-surfing territory than a paddle session.

The only real, and I mean *only*, window of hope is on the morning of Friday the 31st of July. The swell drops back to a manageable 5ft from the SSW, with a period of 11 seconds and a combined energy of 763. The wind is a light onshore from the SSE, so it's not perfect, but it's the best we've got. The size is still a bit much for beginners, but it's in the range for intermediates. Honestly, it's the single standout, but it's nothing to write home about.

After that, it all fades away again. The first week of August is a total dud, with tiny waves and messy wind. We get a tiny bump on the 5th of August with a 2ft SSW swell and a clean cross-offshore wind, but it's just not enough to get excited about. The long-range stuff is a washout.

So, the verdict? The 16-day window is a tough one. The best of a bad bunch is the morning of Friday the 31st of July at Shipwrecks. The swell has some size and energy, the wind is light, but it's not a clean, offshore day. It's a gamble, but it's the only bet on the table.

Rusty.

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