The Island Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Hey folks, Rusty here. Let’s talk about The Island. It’s a reef break that’s consistent and exposed to SW swell, so it catches almost everything that comes its way. But I gotta be straight with you – the first week is a bit of a grind. The water temp is sitting at 60°, which is about normal for this time of year, so nothing weird there.

The pattern starts off pretty bleak. Monday the 20th and Tuesday the 21st are a write-off – messy cross-shore winds, a bit of cross-chop, and the swell is just kinda there but not doing anything special. The combined energy is moderate (662 on Monday morning, dropping to 409 by Tuesday afternoon), but the wind’s never clean enough to make it worthwhile. Wednesday the 22nd is worse – stronger cross-onshore winds and choppy conditions, even though the swell bumps up a little. Thursday the 23rd sees a bigger pulse of SW swell hitting 7 ft with a 15-second period (moderate-to-strong energy, 1783-1955), but the wind is howling cross-shore, making it lumpy and uninviting. That’s a lot of power for nothing.

Friday the 24th is the first glimmer of hope. The swell drops to 6 ft and the wind goes super light – just a slight air from the SSW, giving us a light cross-shore with only small ripples. The combined energy is still strong (1228), and the 15-second period means proper groundswell. It’s not perfect, but it’s the cleanest we’ve seen. If you’re keen, Friday morning is your window. After that, Saturday the 25th and Sunday the 26th fade fast with onshore winds and dropping swell.

Now, the real standout comes on Thursday the 30th of July. That’s a week and a half out, so keep an eye on the charts, but it looks promising. We’ve got a solid 6 ft SW swell with a 16-second period – that’s a long-period groundswell that’ll wrap into the reef nicely. The wind is offshore from the E at 16 mph, keeping it clean. The combined energy is strong (1879), and the conditions are rated excellent for experienced surfers. This is the one to circle on your calendar. The Island is a reef break, so it handles that kind of long-period energy well, but remember, it’s an advanced wave – not for beginners. Crowds are sometimes a factor here, so expect some company if it’s firing.

Friday the 31st of July is also tidy – 4 ft SW swell, offshore wind from the E, and clean conditions. It’s smaller, but still a fun option for those who want a more manageable size. The combined energy drops to 622, but the wind is offshore all day. After that, the first week of August fades into small, weak surf with poor conditions, so the end of July is your best bet.

Overall, the first week is a struggle, but the last few days of July and into early August have a couple of gems. That Thursday the 30th is the standout – bigger swell, clean wind, and a proper reef setup. Don’t sleep on it.

Rusty.

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