Tennis Courts Surf Forecast and Surf Report

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

First up, I gotta be straight with you – the next week or so is a bit of a grind. We’ve got a consistent pulse of swell, but it’s all coming from the ENE, blowing straight across the face of the reef, making it real tricky to get a clean ride. The water’s sitting at a warm 80°, which is pretty much bang on what you’d expect for this time of year. The real problem is the wind. It’s a solid 19-25 mph cross-offshore breeze day after day, and while the waves themselves are clean on the surface, the quality is just poor. It’s not gonna be a fun paddle.

From Monday afternoon the 6th right through to the 15th of July, it’s a constant 5 to 8 ft of short-period, wind-affected ENE swell. The wave energy is moderate, hitting the 888 mark on the Monday, but it’s just not lining up. This is a situation where the setup is more interesting for the kite surfers than for us paddle guys. The wind is strong and consistent, but the waves are just messy.

Now, the best chance of a decent wave comes much later in the window.

We’re looking at Tennis Courts (reef break). The standout moment is on Friday afternoon, the 17th of July. The wind finally drops to a gentle 9 mph cross-offshore breeze, and we get a pulse of long-period groundswell from the SSW. Now, this is promising. The swell is small – only 2 ft – but it’s coming from the optimum direction and with a very long 16-second period. That’s a super long wait between sets, but the energy will be clean and the wave shape should be excellent. The energy reading is moderate at 236 – it’s not a powerhouse, but it’s a distinct, clean line. This is one for the connoisseur, a real gem if you’re patient, but the crowds are possible here.

The Monday morning of the 21st of July also looks like a solid option. We get a 3 ft swell from the E with a 16-second period, and the wind is a lighter 12 mph cross-offshore. The wave energy is higher, at 758, so you’ll get more push. It’s a marginal call, but the better conditions make it a worthwhile gamble.

Other than that, the rest of the second week is a mix of very small, long-period swells from the S and SSW, but the wind is often too strong or the direction is off. The 16th of July throws a 2 ft SSW swell with a 17-second period, but the wind is still a stiff 22 mph cross-offshore, so it’ll be blown out.

So, in short: don’t bother for the first week. It’s a blowout. Keep your eyes on Friday the 17th and Monday the 21st for the cleanest, best-shaped waves on offer. The wait will be worth it.

Rusty.

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