The Harbour Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let me tell you how it’s looking out there for The Harbour. I’ve gone through the charts, and to be straight up with you, it’s been a quiet stretch and it’s going to stay that way for a while.

We’re looking at a long, dry spell before anything worthwhile shows up. From Tuesday the 7th right through to Friday the 17th, it’s mostly flat or tiny, with poor conditions and not a single recommendation. You’ll see a few days where the swell tries to push above 2 ft, but the energy is weak – we’re talking combined swell energy values barely scratching 60 (like 60 on Saturday the 12th), and most days it’s under 20. Winds are messy, onshore or cross-onshore a lot of the time, and that period is short, around 4 to 8 seconds. That’s just windswell junk, not the kind of stuff you paddle out for.

The first real glimmer of hope comes on Saturday the 18th. The swell starts to build, hitting 5 ft on Saturday morning with 7-second period from the NE, and the combined energy jumps to 255 (moderate wave energy). But here’s the catch – the wind is a cross-onshore from the north at 12 mph, creating a choppy mess. By Saturday afternoon, the swell pushes to 7 ft with a longer 9-second period and energy at 649 (strong wave energy), but it’s onshore and labeled marginal. That’s not for beginners – 7 ft NE swell is pushing expert territory, especially with that onshore wind.

Now, Sunday the 19th is where it gets interesting. Early morning we’ve got a 4 ft NE swell with a 9-second period and combined energy at 249 (moderate). The wind swings to a light offshore from the SSW at 6 mph, and the water’s clean. That’s the standout in this whole window. The Harbour is a beach/groyne setup, so that long-period NE groundswell might break a little straight on the beach, but with offshore wind, expect some clean, lined-up waves. It’s a little on the smaller side for experts but solid for intermediates.

After Sunday afternoon, the swell drops back down fast. By Monday the 20th it’s back to 2 ft, and the rest of the forecast fizzles out again into poor conditions, with cross-onshore winds and tiny energy.

Water temp? Hard to say much – most of the data is blank, but the one reading from Tuesday afternoon shows 54°F with a -0.5°F anomaly, so that’s about average for July.

So, bottom line: you’re waiting until Sunday the 19th. That morning session with the 4 ft NE swell and offshore SSW wind is the pick. Everything else is small, choppy, or flat. If you’re a kiter, that Saturday afternoon blow with 7 ft and onshore wind might be more your thing, but for paddle surfing, it’s a long wait.

Rusty

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