The Gallows 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. We’ve only got one spot on the radar for this stretch, and it’s a proper one if you know what you’re doing.

The overall picture is a run of solid, powerful SW groundswell, with a lot of energy behind it. The catch is, for a good chunk of this period, the swell is going to be pushing too hard for this spot, especially for anyone not riding a heavy gun. The water is sitting at 67°, which is a touch warmer than usual for this time of year, so the wetsuit might be a bit more comfortable than you’d expect.

The Gallows is a reef setup, so it handles the long-period groundswell well. The optimum direction is from the West, and we’re getting plenty of that SW angle. The first real shout is on Wednesday morning, July 22nd. We’ve got a clean 12 ft SW swell running at 14 seconds, with a light easterly offshore breeze. The combined energy is massive (3901), which is a lot of power. This is expert-only territory; the swell is well over the 8 ft mark, so leave the foamie at home. It’s big, but it’s clean.

The Thursday afternoon, July 23rd, is a quieter option. You’ll see the swell drop to 8 ft from the SW, still a solid 14-second period, with a light NNE cross-offshore breeze. The energy is a bit more manageable (1889), but still a strong session. Crowds are sometimes a thing here, so expect a few others in the lineup for these windows.

Now, the real gem in this entire forecast is Tuesday, July 28th. The morning session is looking like the pick of the bunch. An 8 ft SW swell, 14-second period, with a clean easterly offshore breeze at 10 mph. The energy is strong (3183), but the wind and tide are lining up perfectly. The afternoon is just as good, with a 8 ft SW swell and the same offshore glassy conditions. This is as good as it gets for a big, powerful reef wave. The water will still be that touch warmer than average.

The week following that has some promise, but it’s a bit more of a rough ride. The 29th and 30th of July see the swell dip to the 4 ft to 6 ft range, with some truly glassy conditions right at the end of the month. The 29th afternoon is glassy, 6 ft SW, with a 17-second period. That’s a very long period groundswell. It will be clean and lined up, but those long gaps between sets will keep you on your toes.

After that, the swell pumps back up, but it’s mostly too big for the break, with onshore winds ruining the party on the 1st of August. The 2nd of August has a decent afternoon window: 8 ft SW, 14 seconds, with a light SE cross-offshore breeze. The energy is still there (2616), and it’s clean. A solid option for the experienced crew.

The final few days of the run, from the 3rd of August onward, are all about big, clean, but very heavy swell. The 3rd, 4th, and 5th of August all have 10 ft to 12 ft SW swell with clean offshore winds, but the energy is enormous (over 3000). This is purely for the big-wave specialists. If you’re not in that club, these are days to watch from the cliff.

So, to sum it up: The standout is Tuesday, July 28th, morning and afternoon. The backup is the Thursday afternoon, July 23rd, and the 2nd of August afternoon. Everything else is either too big, too windy, or just not the best quality. Keep your eyes on the forecasts for the second week, as a few of those big, clean days could be epic if you’re brave enough.

Rusty.

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