Whitesand Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s get this straight. I’ve scanned the charts for the next couple of weeks, and honestly, it’s a tough one for the region. We’re looking at a long, drawn-out period of flat, weak, and messy conditions. There’s really no standout window worth booking time off for, and the first week is a total write-off. We’ve got a gap of poor surf stretching from now all the way through the end of July, with only a tiny flicker of hope on the very last day of the month.

Let’s start with Sunday, the 19th of July. It’s flat. The water at Whitesand Bay is about average for the time of year, nothing to write home about. We’re looking at a tiny 0.3 ft southwest swell, but it’s a long period groundswell around 12 seconds. That’s a tease, because the energy is pathetic, only 6 (combined energy of all swells directed here). The wind is a cross-offshore from the NNE at 9 mph, which at least keeps the surface clean, but with no size, you’re just floating. That afternoon, the wind picks up to 16 mph from the north, creating a cross-shore chop on a 2 ft, 4-second windswell. It’s bumpy and ugly. Not worth a paddle.

Monday the 20th through to the end of the week is more of the same. We’re seeing tiny pulses of 0.3 ft to 3 ft, mostly from the north or southwest, with periods ranging from a snappy 4 seconds to a drawn-out 18 seconds. The energy readings are all in the double digits, pitiful stuff (values like 13, 14, 42, 55). The wind is a mix of cross-off and cross, but it’s blowing at 12 to 19 mph, keeping things messy. The water is flat and the soul is crushed.

Jumping ahead to the 26th of July, Sunday, we get a bit of a bump. The swell hits 4 ft in the morning and 5 ft in the afternoon from the WSW, but the period is a short 6 seconds. That’s weak, wind-driven junk. The energy does climb to 93 in the morning and 170 in the afternoon (combined energy of all swells directed here), which is moderate, but the wind is onshore, fresh at 19 mph. It’s going to be a choppy, blown-out mess. For a beginner spot, 5 ft with onshore wind is not fun, and it’s not clean enough for anyone else.

We finally get a glimmer of hope right at the end. On Friday, the 31st of July, the morning looks promising, but the swell is still only 2 ft from the west. The game-changer is the wind. We get a light offshore breeze from the east at 9 mph, making the surface glassy and clean. The energy is still low at 26 (combined energy of all swells directed here), but it’s a start. Then, in the afternoon, things get interesting. The swell bumps up to 4 ft from the WSW, with a 6-second period, and the wind stays offshore from the east, now at 12 mph. The energy jumps to 96 (combined energy of all swells directed here). The wave comment is the only one in the whole run that isn't a total write-off, calling it "surfable waves but very ordinary conditions." This is the best on offer, but "best" is a relative term here. It’s clean, but the swell is short-period and a bit wind-affected. For a beach break, a 6-second period is going to be a bit dumpy and sectiony. It’s not a classic day, but it’s the only day you can actually surf without hating yourself.

After that, the first couple of days of August look grim again. The 1st and 2nd bring strong winds from the SSW and WSW, up to 28 mph, with tiny, choppy slop. The last day on the charts, the 3rd of August, is rain and lumpy cross-onshore wind. Not a single standout.

So, to wrap it up: the first 12 days are a bust. The only real window is the afternoon of the 31st of July at Whitesand Bay. It’s not perfect, but it’s clean and there’s a bit of push. If you’re desperate, that’s your moment. Otherwise, keep the board in the bag and wait for a better forecast. This stretch is a classic example of the area going quiet; it’s pretty normal to have these blank runs, so don’t lose faith.

Rusty.

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