Vetchs Reef Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here, let’s get into it.

Look, I’m gonna be straight with you – this forecast is a real test of patience for anyone around Vetchs Reef. It’s a tricky, advanced reef that rarely breaks, and the first few days are a write-off. We’ve got a big gap of nothing from Friday the 31st of July right through Friday morning, with no real surf to speak of. The waiting game starts now.

The first glimmer of hope shows up on Saturday the 1st of August. We’ve got a solid SE swell pushing 7 ft to 8 ft, with a moderate 9-10 second period. The energy is ramping up, with a combined swell energy reading of 783 to 1020 (moderate to strong). But the wind is a cross-off from the SSW, and the tide is questionable, so it’s just marginal. Not worth paddling out for if you’ve got better things to do.

Now, Sunday the 2nd of August is where it gets interesting. The swell builds to 8 ft from the SE, and the period stretches to 11 seconds – that’s a solid groundswell. The combined energy jumps to 1390 (very strong), and the morning session has a light SSW breeze creating clean, cross-off conditions. This is the standout. For experienced surfers only – this is a powerful, long-period swell for a reef, so it’ll be a proper test. The water temp is about average for this time of year, which is fine. It’s the best on offer, and it’s a real shame it’s only for the brave.

The swell fades quickly after that. Monday the 3rd sees the swell drop to 6 ft, and the wind goes cross-on from the NE, making conditions sloppy. By Tuesday the 4th, it’s down to 5 ft and choppy. The rest of the week is a slow bleed of smaller, poorer surf, with energy dropping to as low as 114 (weak) by Thursday the 6th, under howling 40 km/h SSW winds. It’s blown out.

The second week is a rough ride. The swell tries to pick up again around the 8th and 9th of August, with 6 ft to 8 ft from the ENE, but the wind is a relentless, strong cross-on from the NE, making it a total mess. The combined energy hits 703 (moderate) on the 9th, but with 40 km/h winds, it’s more of a kite session than a surf session. By the 12th, we’ve got a near gale blowing and the surf is completely trashed. The final few days from the 14th show a small, clean 4 ft swell, but it’s weak and light rain is falling.

Bottom line: Sunday the 2nd of August is your only real shot, and it’s a heavy one. The rest of the 16 days is a long, frustrating wait. Hang in there, and check back in case the forecasts shift.

Rusty.

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