Figueira da Foz - Buarcos Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on offer for the Figueira da Foz region over the next couple of weeks.

Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you – the next few days are looking pretty grim. There’s a real dry spell for quality surf. The first week is mostly about small, weak waves and winds that just aren’t cooperating. The energy is low, mostly under 200 (moderate), and the swell is pretty short-period, around 6-10 seconds, which means soft, mushy lines. The water is a touch warmer than normal at 69°, but that’s small comfort when there’s nothing to ride.

We're looking at a gap of consistent, worthwhile surf for about 9 to 10 days. A few mornings, like Wednesday the 29th and Thursday the 30th of July, have clean, cross-off winds and surfable waves, but the swell is tiny – around 2ft to 3ft. It’s really only for the longboard or a foiler if you’re desperate.

The real action, and the only true standout I can see, is aimed at the end of the first week of August. The morning of Saturday the 8th of August is where it’s at. Buarcos is a point break, and it’s going to wake up. We’ve got a clean 6ft swell coming from the NNW, with a period of 8 seconds. The wind is a light, cross-off breeze – that’s a major positive for clean faces. The combined energy is up to 369 (strong), so there’s some proper push behind it. This is the best on offer, but heads up: this spot is known to be inconsistent and crowds can pop up sometimes, so get in early. The only catch is the short period; at a point break it should still offer some decent lines, but it might be a bit stacked up.

The next morning, Sunday the 9th of August, has a smaller 4ft swell from the NNW with clean cross-off winds, and again on Monday the 10th, a similar 5ft offering from the NW, but the wind is a touch stronger. There’s also a hopeful window on the morning of Tuesday the 11th of August, with a 5ft NNW swell and clean, off-shore wind from the east. That’s another one to keep an eye on, but it’s a bit further out, so don’t hold your breath.

For the rest of the second week, the swell drops back down and the winds get messy. The swell stays under 3ft with moderate energy, and the afternoon winds blow it out. The 6ft - 6ft NW groundswell on Friday the 7th of August is a big one, but it’s all cross-on, adding a chop to the mix. That’s more of a kite-surfing kind of day than a paddle-surfing day.

So, bottom line: the first week is a write-off for anything decent. The standout is the morning of Saturday the 8th of August at Buarcos. Get on it if you can, but be patient. It’s dry for a while, but the forecasts can always change.

Rusty.

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