The Wedge Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, folks, Rusty here. Let’s break down what’s coming for the next couple of weeks.

We’re starting off a little slow, but there’s a real pulse of energy building for the end of July and into the first of August. The first few days are nothing to write home about, but don’t count the whole run out.

The break is The Wedge, a breakwater setup that’s for advanced surfers only. The water is sitting at 71° right now, which is much warmer than normal for this time of year, so you’ll be comfortable in a spring suit or less.

There’s a bit of a gap in quality surf to start. Friday the 24th and Saturday the 25th only offer small swell around 2ft to 3ft from the SW, with a solid onshore wind. The wave energy is moderate, but the conditions just aren’t clean. Sunday morning the 26th is a similar story.

Things start to look a little more promising from Monday the 27th. The swell bumps up to 4ft from the SW, still with a light onshore breeze. The period is a very long 18 seconds, which is proper groundswell. That kind of period at The Wedge can be a bit tricky – it likes to stand up quick and throw, but with the wind keeping it onshore, it’s going to be a bit of a battle. The combined energy is moderate (800), so there’s some push.

The standout window is looking like Friday the 31st of July. We’ve got a solid 5ft to 6ft swell from the S, with a period of 15 seconds. That’s a long period groundswell. The energy jumps up to strong (1325). The wind is a light cross-onshore from the WSW, which is clean enough. This is the biggest, most powerful swell of the stretch, and for a spot like The Wedge, that’s expert territory. The size is pushing over 5ft, so it’s not for the faint-hearted, but if you’ve got the skills, Friday morning through the weekend is where it’s at. The crowd factor is something to keep in mind – it’s often busy, so expect a lineup.

Saturday the 1st of August holds similar size, 5ft to 6ft from the S, but the period drops to 13 seconds, and the wind stays light cross-onshore. It’s still good, but not quite as clean as Friday.

By Sunday the 2nd of August, the swell is dropping fast down to 4ft, and the energy is fading (399). The period drops to 11 seconds, and the wind is clean and onshore. It’s a dramatic drop-off.

From Monday the 3rd of August right through to the end of the forecast on Saturday the 8th, it’s small. Swell heights hover around 1ft to 2ft, with weak energy. The wind is mostly light to gentle, but it’s a bit of a mix of cross and cross-onshore. There’s no real power to work with. It’s a flat spell.

So, the call is simple: if you’re an expert, Friday the 31st of July is your best bet. That S swell, 6ft, with a 15-second period, has the most punch. The Wedge will be on, but it’s a heavy, powerful wave. Don’t bother before Monday the 27th, and after Sunday the 2nd of August, it’s a blank run for nearly a week.

Rusty.

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