Vetchs Reef Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s switch to feet and miles.

First up, I’ll be straight with you – this 16-day run is a real mixed bag. We’ve got a solid window of clean waves coming, but it’s sandwiched between a lot of wind and poor conditions. The clear standout is Vetchs Reef, a tricky, rarely breaking reef setup that only lights up for the experienced crew.

Starting off Monday morning the 27th of July, we’ve got a glassy morning with a clean 5ft NE swell, period of 6 seconds. The combined energy sits at 295 (moderate). That’s a decent little pulse, but the period is short, so it’ll be a bit lumpy and fat on the face. The wind is glassy though – that’s a huge plus. But by the afternoon, a strong SSW wind kicks up to 19 mph, and the swell drops to 3ft with poor conditions. Tough luck.

The next few days are a write-off. Tuesday the 28th through to Saturday the 1st of August, the wind is mostly cross-off or fresh, and the swell is either tiny or non-existent. The combined energy is weak, often below 100, and the surf is just not worth paddling out for.

Now, Sunday the 2nd of August – that’s a glimmer of hope. The morning brings a light breeze, cross-off wind, and a 5ft ESE swell with a period of 9 seconds. That’s a moderate 281 combined energy. The waves are clean, but the afternoon turns onshore, and the forecast gets a bit dicey.

Monday the 3rd of August: forget it. The wind is cross-on all day, 9-12 mph from the NE, and the swell is 4-5ft but messy. The reef won’t be clean.

The real standout comes on Tuesday the 4th of August. Tuesday morning: glassy conditions, light wind from the south, and a 4ft ESE swell at 9 seconds. The combined energy is 277 (moderate). The wind is glassy – that’s as good as it gets for a reef break. The wave will be clean, lined up, and the reef will hold that period well. This is the best window in the whole forecast. For those who can handle the reef, this is the one.

But that afternoon, the wind swings back to a stiff SSW at 19 mph, cross-off, and the energy drops.

Wednesday the 5th of August onward is all cross-off winds and smaller swell, 3ft or so. It’s clean but tiny. Not worth the drive.

Thursday the 6th, Friday the 7th, and Saturday the 8th of August – mainly cross-on winds, small swell, and choppy. The combined energy is often in the 100-200 range, weak.

Then Sunday the 9th of August – cross-on wind is fresh to strong, 22-25 mph from the NE. The swell is 4-4ft, but it’s messy and lumpy. That’s kite-surfing weather, not paddle surfing.

Now, the second week gets interesting again. Monday the 10th of August: the morning sees a 7ft E swell, period 9 seconds, but the wind is cross-on and gentle. The combined energy is huge – 1354 (strong). That’s a lot of power, but the wind is messy. Then the afternoon – that’s where the magic happens. The wind turns cross-off from the SSW, only 9 mph, and the swell builds to 8ft from the east, period 9 seconds. The combined energy is 1082 (strong). This is excellent surf for experienced surfers. The reef will be working, the waves will be solid, and the wind will keep the face clean. For those who know Vetchs Reef, this is a serious session.

Tuesday the 11th of August morning: still a 8ft E swell, but the wind is a stiff 19 mph cross-off and the period drops to 8 seconds. The energy is 772 (moderate to strong). It’s still big, but the quality is a bit questionable.

So to sum it up: the absolute best is Tuesday morning the 4th of August for a clean, glassy reef session, and Monday afternoon the 10th of August for big, powerful, clean waves for the experts. The rest is mostly wind-affected or small.

– Rusty

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