Watermans Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s coming up for Watermans.

We’ve got a bit of a mixed bag on the horizon. The week kicks off with some decent, clean conditions, but there’s a period of wild, messy surf in between that you’ll want to avoid. It’s not looking like a classic long run of perfect waves, but there are a couple of sessions that really stand out if you pick your moments.

The first real action is on Thursday the 23rd of July. The morning is looking sweet – we’ve got a 5ft swell rolling in from the SW with a 14-second period, and a clean offshore breeze from the ENE at 12 mph sets it up nicely. The water temp is feeling about average for the time of year. The combined energy is moderate (902), and the wind is going to keep those waves glassy. Thursday afternoon holds up too, with 5ft swell and a lighter offshore breeze. That first day is definitely the pick of the first week for a clean, cruisy session.

Friday the 24th drops off a fair bit. The swell backs down to around 3ft, and while it stays clean, it’s pretty marginal. Saturday the 25th is similar, with the wind getting a bit messy in the afternoon.

Then things get a bit gnarly. On Sunday the 26th, a new swell arrives but it comes with some serious onshore wind. Swell heights hit 7ft to 8ft, but the period drops right off to 8 seconds, and the wind is howling cross-onshore. The water’s going to be lumpy and choppy – this is more of a kite-surfing day than a paddle session. The wave energy is moderate (959) in the morning, but jumps up to very strong (4433) in the afternoon. Not the good kind of power.

Monday the 27th and Tuesday the 28th are cleaner again, with waist to chest-high swell around 5ft to 7ft, and the wind is cross-off or light. The conditions are surfable and clean, but the quality isn’t quite standout.

Now, here’s where it gets interesting. Wednesday the 30th of July is a special day. Thursday afternoon sees a gorgeous 4ft swell from the WSW with a very long 19-second period. The wind is basically dead calm, just a slight air from the E. That’s going to produce long, clean, lined-up waves. The combined energy is strong (1199) for the size. For a reef break, that long period is going to make for some beautiful, drawn-out rides. This is a standout session for surfers who know how to handle a longer-period groundswell.

Friday the 31st is another big day. Both morning and afternoon are pumping with 8ft to 8ft swell from the WSW, with a 15 to 16-second period and clean cross-off winds. The energy is massive (3074 to 2631) – this is strong, powerful surf. This is strictly for experienced surfers. It’s going to be big, but clean. Expect crowds, because this is the sort of day everyone’s waiting for. Possibly the best on offer in the whole run, but you need to know what you’re doing.

The first few days of August go downhill fast. Saturday the 1st has a huge 10ft swell but the wind is a fresh cross-shore, messy and lumpy – not good. Sunday the 2nd is a write-off with onshore wind and poor conditions.

After that, it’s a bit of a slump through to the 7th. There are some clean windows on Wednesday the 5th of August, with 7ft swell and light cross-off winds, but the wind is a little cross-shore, not perfect. The energy is still strong (2729), but the conditions are just “okay” rather than epic. By the 6th and 7th, the wind picks up again and the swell gets big and messy, with the last day seeing 12ft and a howling 25 mph cross-shore wind – total chaos.

So, to sum it up: Thursday the 30th of July and Friday the 31st of July are your top-tier windows. The 30th for longer, cleaner lines with less size, and the 31st for a big, clean, powerful swell that only the experienced crew should touch. Don’t bother with the weekends in between.

Rusty.

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