Third Reef Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, I’m Rusty, and I’ve been staring at the charts for Third Reef. It’s a reef set-up, and it’s fairly consistent, but honestly, the next week and a half is a bit of a mixed bag. The water’s sitting at 56°F, which is a bit colder than normal for this time of year – so you’ll be reaching for the thick rubber if you’re paddling out.

We’ve got a bit of a slow start. Wednesday 12th is a write-off – poor surf conditions with a cross-onshore wind and choppy 5ft to 6ft swell. Thursday 13th morning is marginal at best, with a 5ft NW swell and a light onshore wind, but it’s just not clean. The 16-second period swell showing up Thursday afternoon is too small and crosses up. Friday 14th and Saturday 15th are small and marginal too, with light cross-onshore breezes and just 2ft to 3ft of swell. It’s not doing much.

Then we get a bit of a standout on Sunday 16th. Sunday morning is still marginal, but Sunday afternoon – that’s the one. Glassy conditions, light W wind, 3ft of SSW swell at 16 seconds, and the wave energy is moderate (573). It’s a true glass-off, and the reef will clean up nicely. That’s your best window for a paddle in the first week. Monday 17th morning is also glassy and good, but the swell drops a touch.

After that, we hit a bit of a lull. Tuesday 18th through to Thursday 20th morning are mostly marginal or poor, with small swells and cross-onshore winds. Thursday 20th afternoon turns marginal again. Friday 21st and Saturday 22nd are poor to marginal, with small, weak swell. Sunday 23rd and Monday 24th stay marginal, with light cross-onshore winds and tiny 2ft SSW swell.

Now, looking into the second week, there’s a promising window late in the period. On Tuesday 25th, morning is marginal with a 6ft NW swell and moderate energy (953), but it’s a bit choppy. Tuesday afternoon, however, is a big standout: glassy, with 5ft of NW swell and a 16-second period, and the energy is moderate (529). That’s a clean, long-period groundswell coming in – perfect for a reef. Wednesday 26th afternoon is glassy too, with a clean 3ft SW swell. Then Thursday 27th morning and afternoon are both glassy, with 2ft SSW swell at 18 seconds and strong energy (666 and 707) – that’s a very long-period groundswell, and the conditions will be as clean as it gets. So, keep an eye on that Thursday 27th window – it’s a solid late-season runner.

Crowds can show up sometimes at Third Reef, so if you’re after a quiet session, the glassy afternoons towards the end of the period might be your best bet. The 6ft swell on the 25th is pushing into intermediate territory, so keep that in mind.

Stay stoked,
Rusty

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