Ano Nuevo Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s get stuck into it. It’s Rusty here, and I’ve been staring at the charts for this stretch, and I gotta be straight with you: it’s a bit of a lean run for a while. We’re looking at a 16-day window that starts off with a whole lot of nothing much, and it takes a good few days before we even get a sniff of a rideable wave.

The first few days, from Saturday the 8th through to around Tuesday the 12th, are pretty much a write-off. The swell is small, weak, and all over the shop – not what you want to see. The energy readings are pretty sad, like 413 and 296 early on, which tells you there’s just not enough push in the water. On top of that, the wind is mostly cross or cross-on, which is going to put a bump on any little runner that tries to show its face. It’s the kind of surf that has you sitting on the sand, not in the water.

We get a slight tease on Sunday the 9th, with the swell jumping a bit to 5ft, but the period is short – only 10 seconds – and the wind is still messy. That’s your classic “looks okay from the car park, but it’s a close-out when you get out there” kind of day. The energy is moderate at 644 though, so there is a little bit of grunt, but it’s not clean.

The mid-week period is more of the same – poor conditions, with the wind chopping it up. The swell stays in that 3ft to 4ft range, but the periods are short, between 8 and 10 seconds, so it’s just not going to have any shape to it. It’s not until Friday the 15th that we start to see a shift in the character of the swell. The period jumps up to 16 seconds, which is a proper groundswell, and while the energy is moderate at 554, it’s a step in the right direction. The wind is light, but it’s still cross-on, so it’s not going to be perfect.

The weekend of the 16th and 17th is a bit of a tease. We’ve got that long-period swell (16 seconds) and the size is around 3ft, but the wind is still not cooperating. Sunday the 16th has light cross-on winds, but it’s the kind of clean-ish but small. Then Monday the 17th, the wind swings around to the northwest and picks up, making a mess of things again.

Now, the real standout, the one window that has me a little more excited, is Wednesday the 19th. The afternoon sees a bit more size – 5ft – and the period backs off to 12 seconds, which is still decent. The energy jumps up to a strong 839, which is the biggest reading we’ve seen in the whole run. It’s still cross-shore, but the extra push in the water might just make it worth a look. The wind is a moderate breeze, so it won't be glassy, but it’s the most promising afternoon we have.

After that, it’s back to the same old story – the swell fades and the wind stays on it. The last few days, from the 20th to the 23rd, are pretty forgettable. The energy drops back down, and the periods go short again. The 23rd has almost no wind, which would be nice if there was any swell to ride, but there isn’t.

So, the bottom line is this: the whole run is a tough one for anyone who isn’t an expert. The swell is mostly small, and the wind is rarely your friend. The best bet is that Wednesday afternoon on the 19th at Ano Nuevo. It’s an inconsistent spot, so don’t expect it to be firing, but with that bigger swell and stronger energy, it’s the only time I’d genuinely consider paddling out. For the rest of it, you’d be better off checking the kitesurfing forecast, because there’s not much for a surfboard.

Rusty out.

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