Vetchs Reef Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, it’s Rusty here, and I’ve got to be straight with you – this one’s a tough read. For the next 16 days, starting from now, we’re looking at a real dry spell for Vetchs Reef. It’s a rare-breaking reef setup that needs everything to line up, and frankly, it just doesn’t happen in this window. We’ve got a blank run from the start all the way through, so don’t bother checking the cams.

Let’s run through it. Saturday the 29th kicks off with a 8ft to 10ft ENE swell, but it’s all wrong – a strong cross-onshore wind from the NE at 22 mph has it choppy and messy. The energy is moderate to strong (661 to 1122), but with that wind, it’s a write-off. Sunday the 30th sees the swell drop to 5ft to 4ft, and the wind swings to a cross-off from the SSW at 19 mph, which cleans it up. The energy is moderate (360 to 322), but it’s still a “poor surf conditions” call – the swell is short period (8-10 seconds) and the reef is rarely breaking, so it’s not coming together.

Monday the 31st through to the end of the first week are all marginal or poor. There’s a brief flirt with cleaner conditions on the 2nd of September (morning, 3ft ENE swell, clean cross-off), but it’s tiny and weak (183 energy). The rest are all cross-onshore, choppy, or just too small. By the 5th and 6th of September, we see a bit of a pulse – 5ft to 8ft – but it’s from the SE and ENE with a short period, and the wind is onshore, ruining any chance. The energy is moderate (346 to 635), but the setup is a mess.

The second week doesn’t offer any hope either. From the 7th to the 13th, it’s a broken record: clean conditions on the 7th and 8th (7ft to 8ft ENE swell, cross-off SSW wind at 22–47 mph), but the swell is short period (8 seconds) and the energy is moderate (574 to 875). The problem is, this reef is rarely breaking, and with the wind that strong, it’s more of a training session for your hair than surf. The rest of the week is a mix of cross-onshore chop and tiny, weak swells.

Here’s the bottom line: there are no standouts, no good options, nothing to get excited about. Vetchs Reef is a fickle spot, and this 16-day window is a total bust. The water temperature is about average for the time of year, but that’s cold comfort when you’re looking at a flat, choppy horizon. The only highlight is that when it’s this consistent in its poorness, it tends not to stay this way forever – forecasts can change.

Rusty, signing off.

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