Yonabaru Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right, let’s have a look at what’s on offer for Yonabaru over the next couple of weeks.

First thing to say, honestly, it’s a bit of a slow start. For the first week and a half, we’re looking at really small, weak surf. The swell energy is just not there, with combined energy readings mostly sitting between 14 and 52 – that’s weak, barely any push. The wind is mostly cross-onshore or onshore, keeping things messy. There’s a couple of mornings around the 29th and 30th where the wind goes glassy or offshore, but the swell is still only 1ft to 2ft – you’d be lucky to get a rideable wave. The water temperature is sitting at 83°, which is about 1° cooler than average for this time of year, so nothing unusual there.

Then, things start to change around the 2nd of August. On Sunday the 2nd, we get a pulse of swell from the ESE with a period of 15 to 16 seconds – that’s proper groundswell. The waves are still small, 1ft to 2ft, but the energy jumps to 115 and then 194. The wind is glassy, so it’s clean. The surf is still pretty ordinary though, not really worth paddling out for.

The real standout, and the one to keep an eye on, comes on Monday the 5th of August. We’ve got a solid E swell building, with heights around 6ft and a period of 17 to 18 seconds – that’s very long period groundswell. The combined energy is massive, hitting over 2000. The wind is onshore, which is a shame, but it’s light. The break is Yonabaru, which is a beginner spot, and 6ft is pushing it for beginners, but for more experienced surfers, that’s a decent wave. The swell direction is E, which matches the optimum direction of NE reasonably well.

If you can wait, the 6th and 7th of August look even better. On Thursday the 6th, the swell drops slightly to 4ft, but the wind goes glassy in the morning, with the energy still at 819. Then Friday the 7th morning, we’ve got 5ft swell from the E, period of 13 seconds, and glassy conditions – that’s clean, solid, and the energy is 946. This is the best on offer. The crowd profile at Yonabaru is “sometimes” busy, so you might have some company, but it’s worth it.

So, the first week is a write-off unless you’re desperate for a paddle. The second week, from the 5th to the 7th, brings the real swell. The 5th has the size but with light onshore wind; the 6th and 7th have the glassy conditions and strong groundswell. I’d be aiming for the morning of the 7th of August as the pick of the period.

Keep it salty, and I’ll see you in the water.

Rusty

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