Third Reef Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, this is Rusty, and I’ve been staring at the charts for our stretch of coast. The only break on the menu is Third Reef, and to be honest, it’s a bit of a mixed bag for the next two weeks.

The pattern starts with a long stretch of frustration. From Thursday the 30th of July right through to Monday the 3rd of August, the wind is a constant cross-on mess, with speeds hitting 12 to 19 mph. The swell is there, ranging from 3 ft to 8 ft, and the energy is moderate to strong (around 320 to 1027), but it’s all blown out and choppy. It’s the kind of surf you’d drive past and keep on driving. The water is sitting at 58°F, which is about normal for this time of year, nothing to write home about.

Then we get a little glimmer of hope. On Tuesday the 4th of August, the afternoon sees the wind drop to a glassy 3 mph from the NW. The swell is a solid 6 ft from the NW with a period of 9 seconds, and the energy is still moderate (630). This is the first real standout. The conditions are clean, and the waves should have some shape. With an intermediate reef break like Third Reef, that’s a good window for a session. It’s not a monster, but for this area, it’s the best on offer for a while. Keep in mind, it can get crowded here sometimes.

The next few days are marginal, with onshore or light cross-on winds and similar swell sizes. The wind stays light, which is better than a gale, but the tide or consistency will be a bit of a question mark. The period for the north-west swells hangs around 8 to 10 seconds, which is decent, but not groundswell territory.

The next real standout doesn’t come until Monday the 10th of August. That afternoon, we get a glassy 6 ft NW swell with an 8-second period and strong energy (897). It’s late in the forecast, so it’s promising but less certain. Again, Third Reef (reef) with clean conditions should produce some fun, rippable waves.

Finally, on Wednesday the 12th of August, the afternoon looks glassy again, but the swell switches to a long-period (18 seconds) SSW swell at just 3 ft. That long period is a groundswell, and while it’s clean, it’s small. That long period might make it break a bit straight at the reef, but it’s a point break setup, so it could still offer some nice lines if you’re patient. The energy is strong (951) for the size, which is interesting.

From Thursday the 13th of August onward, it’s back to cross-on winds and messy conditions, with the swell dropping back to 3 ft to 3 ft from the SSW. The two-week run fizzles out.

So, to sum it up: the first week is mostly a write-off. Your best bets are the Tuesday the 4th of August afternoon, and then the Monday the 10th of August afternoon. Both offer glassy windows and manageable swell. The 12th of August is a curiosity for the long-period fans, but it’s small. The rest? Save your energy.

Rusty.

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