Thompsons Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s talk Thompsons Bay. It’s a sheltered spot, so it needs the right push to get going, and for the next 16 days, it’s mostly going to be a patience game. There’s a long stretch of pretty average to poor conditions, but a couple of windows do stand out if you’re willing to wait.

First up, from Thursday 16 July through to Monday 20 July, it’s a bit of a write-off. The swell is small and inconsistent, mostly around 3 to 4 feet from the east, and the wind is onshore or cross-onshore pretty much the whole time. Not worth getting wet for.

Then there’s a gap of a few days with no real recommendations. Tuesday 21 July and Wednesday 22 July are a mixed bag. Wednesday morning the 22nd actually sees a brief moment of calm with glassy conditions and a small 3ft SSW swell, but it’s tiny. The afternoon turns messy again with a strong cross-onshore wind.

Now, the first real standout comes on Thursday 23 July and Friday 24 July. The swell builds from the SSW, reaching 5 to 6 feet, with a period of 14 to 17 seconds – that’s proper groundswell, long and lined up. The energy is moderate to strong. The wind is light cross-onshore, so it’ll be a bit bumpy, but the swell quality will be there. This is best for intermediate surfers; the break is fairly consistent so it should offer some rides. Crowds are sometimes an issue, so keep an eye out. Water temperature is about 71°F, which is about average for this time of year, so no surprises there.

The next big one is Sunday 26 July morning. We’ve got a 5ft SSW swell with a very long period of 18 seconds and strong energy. The wind is a gentle cross-shore, so it’ll be a bit lined up but with a slight chop. This is a proper long-period groundswell, and for a sheltered spot like Thompsons Bay, it might be a bit too straight for the beach, but the reef and points will handle it better. If you’re an expert, this could be the session. It’s a bit of a gamble with the crowds, but the quality is there.

The final week is mostly poor again, with strong onshore winds and lumpy conditions. The morning of 31 July sees a 8ft easterly swell with a short period of 8 seconds and moderate energy. That’s big, but short-period and onshore wind means it’ll be a mess – only for the pros if you’re desperate.

So, if you’re picking, the best bet is the morning of Sunday 26 July for the long-period groundswell, or the Thursday 23 to Friday 24 window for a more consistent, if a little bumpy, session.

Rusty.

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