Wanjapu Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, this is Rusty. Let's get straight into it, folks. The next 16 days are a bit of a mixed bag for our local reef. The biggest story is the water temp: 80°F right now, which is bang on average for this time of year, so no surprises there.

The first real pulse of energy hits on Wednesday 15 July. We’ve got a solid, long-period groundswell from the SSW, right in the optimum slot for Wanjapu. The swell is 6ft with a 16-second period, which is a dreamy interval for a reef setup like this. It’s a good size with serious energy (2046). The wind is a light cross from the SSE, so it’s going to be a bit bumpy but still very rideable. This is a solid, consistent spot, so it should be handling that long-period energy well. I’d say Wednesday morning is the pick of the first week.

Thursday 16 July sees the swell drop a touch to 5ft with the same long period, but the wind swings more cross-on, making it less appealing. The energy is still moderate (1320), but that morning session is worth a look if you’re desperate.

Friday 17 July through Sunday 19 July is a bit of a let-down. The swell drops off and the wind stays cross, ruining the potential. The waves are there, but the quality is poor. Energy values drop into the 700-1000 range, and the wind is just too strong from the SE to keep it clean. The setup is better for a kite than a paddle.

Now, Monday 20 July is interesting. The swell jumps back up to 7ft from the SSW with a 17-second period. That’s a big, powerful, long-period groundswell. The energy is strong (2693). The afternoon session is the standout here, with a cross-offshore breeze from the SE, which should clean it right up. The size is getting into the expert-only zone, so if you’re not comfortable on a 6ft+ reef, sit this one out. The crowds are sometimes, so you might have a few heads out, but that’s standard for this spot.

The rest of the second week, from 21 July onwards, is a grind. The wind is relentless from the SE, and the swell gets mixed up with short-period junk. The energy stays moderate, but the quality is poor. The 26th and 27th bring some fresh, short-period SW swell, but it’s only 8 seconds, so it’s going to be a gutless, choppy mess at the reef. There’s a few days with a 6ft short-period swell, but the wind is just too strong. It’s a write-off for the paddle.

To sum it up: Wednesday 15 July morning is your best bet for a solid, clean session. Monday 20 July afternoon is the big, powerful, and clean option, but that’s for the experts. The rest of the run is a lesson in how cross-shore wind can ruin a good forecast.

Rusty.

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