Tennis Courts Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s on offer at Tennis Courts over the next couple of weeks.

Right up front, I gotta tell ya – it’s a rough start. From now through the end of the first week, the surf’s just not cooperating. The winds are messy, the swell’s weak, and the conditions are getting slapped around by a stiff cross-off breeze. You’ve got a few small pulses of swell around 2 ft to 5 ft, mostly out of the SSW and ENE, but the wind’s just ruining any chance of quality. The combined wave energy is moderate at best, hitting 403-444 on the Sunday, but with poor surf conditions flagged across the board, it’s not worth paddling out. For the first several days, you’re better off tidying the garage.

Now, come Monday the 20th of July, things start to stir. The swell ticks up a notch – we’re seeing 3 ft from the south with a long 16 second period, and the energy climbs into the moderate zone (577). The wind’s still cross-off, but the forecast edges into “marginal” territory. That continues through the next few days, with similar 3 ft to 3 ft swell and energy readings climbing into the 800s and 900s. Not great yet, but it’s stirring.

The real standout comes around Thursday the 23rd of July. That’s when the swell cranks up – we’ve got 4 ft to 5 ft from the ENE with a period around 11-12 seconds. The combined energy jumps into strong territory (1104 to 1205). That’s the best looking window in the whole forecast. The wind’s still cross-off, but for a reef break like Tennis Courts, that’s workable. The swell direction from the ENE is a decent match for the spot’s optimum SSE, so expect some lined-up, chunkier sets. Crowds can be a thing here sometimes, so keep that in mind. This one is for the advanced crew – it’s not beginner-friendly.

Looking into the last week of July and into the 1st of August, the swell hangs around. We see more 4 ft to 5 ft pulses from the ENE and E through the 26th to the 28th, with energy readings soaring into the very strong range (1868 on the 26th). That’s serious energy, and the period staying around 13-16 seconds means proper groundswell. The 28th of July (Tuesday) morning looks particularly promising – wind drops to 9 mph, a light breeze, and 5 ft ENE swell. The afternoon pushes to 5 ft with a score that finally breaks into usable territory. That Tuesday is your backup highlight if you miss the 23rd.

After the 29th, it fades fast. The swell backs right off to 2 ft, and the last day of July is flat and poor again. So, you’ve got a solid run from the 23rd through the 28th – that’s your window. Tennis Courts is an exposed reef, consistently handling the energy, and the long period swells will draw up nicely here. Winds aren’t offshore but they’re cross-off, so expect a bit of texture but still ridable.

Water temps? No anomaly flagged, so it’s about average for the time of year – nothing weird there.

Alright, that’s the story. First week’s a wash, but the last week of July has some proper grunt. Go get it.

- Rusty

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