Cabarete Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what's on the menu for the next couple of weeks.

Honestly, if you're looking to paddle out, it's a tough stretch. The forecast is a long, dry spell of poor surf conditions. The wind has got a nasty cross-on or cross-shore component locked in for the entire 16-day period, and it's from the East, which is the wrong way for the Cabarete reef. The swell is tiny and weak, and the wind is just chopping everything up.

We start with a solid gap. From the 29th of August all the way through to the 31st of August, there's nothing for a surfer. The swell is small, with the combined energy at Cabarete only registering 146 (moderate wave energy) on the Saturday morning but with a messy 12 mph cross-on wind. The water temperature is 85°, which is bang on average for this time of year.

The first faint glimmer comes on the morning of the 31st of August. The swell pushes up to 7 ft from the ENE, with a period of 10 seconds, and the combined energy gets a solid 988 (moderate wave energy). The wind is a cross-shore 12 mph, which is a bit better, but it's still creating a cross-chop. The call is marginal at best, with questionable tide conditions. It's a look, but it's not a go.

Then it's straight back to the same old story. From the 1st of September through the 11th, the swell drops and the wind stays on it. The combined energy plummets, going as low as 22 (weak wave energy) on the 4th of September afternoon. The swell is tiny, sub-3 ft, with short periods of 4 to 8 seconds. It's just a flat, choppy mess.

The 6th of September afternoon sees a spike in the period to 13 seconds, pushing energy up to 501 (moderate wave energy), but the swell is only 3 ft and the wind is 19 mph cross-on. All that energy is just wasted on a lumpy, unrideable surface.

The 7th of September morning has the biggest swell of the run at 6 ft from the East with an 11-second period, giving a combined energy of 667 (moderate wave energy). But yet again, the 12 mph cross-on wind ruins it. It's a consistent spot, but it needs a break in the wind to turn on.

There is no standout day. There is no best on offer. The setup is more interesting for hardcore kitesurfers than paddle surfers, given the constant wind and the chop. It's a blank run, and for the Cabarete area, that's not unusual when the trades are locked in like this. Forecasts can change though, so keep an eye on the horizon.

Rusty.

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