Cabarete Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you. The 16-day window for Cabarete is a tough one. The data is telling me there’s just no good surf on offer for the whole stretch. We’re looking at a solid block of poor surf conditions from Tuesday, July 21st, right through to the end of the forecast on Wednesday, August 5th.

The issue is the wind. It’s relentless. From the get-go on the 21st, we’ve got a steady E to ENE breeze blowing at 12 to 22 mph, and it’s sitting right onshore or cross-onshore. That’s pulverising any chance of a clean wave. The swell is there, but it’s a sad story. We’re looking at a short-period, wind-driven chop coming from the E and ENE, with periods of only 6 to 8 seconds. The wave energy is weak to moderate at best, with figures like 115 on the 21st morning, bouncing up to a peak of 280 on the afternoon of the 29th, but that energy is just messy. The water is sitting at a warm 83°F, which is about average for the time of year, but you won’t be enjoying it on a surfboard.

There is one standout break in the guidance, and that’s Cabarete (Dominican Republic). It’s a consistent reef setup, but it’s not firing. The optimum swell direction here is NE, and while the swell is coming from that general E/ENE area, the wind is just ruining it. The swell height is mostly around 3 ft to 5 ft, but with the wind and short period, it’s nothing but a lumpy, choppy mess. For a reef break, that’s a kook’s game. The wind is too strong for a clean paddle out, and the quality is gone.

Honestly, if you’re a kite surfer, this might look interesting. With that consistent cross-onshore breeze and a bit of chop, you’d have a howling session. But for a paddle surfer? There’s nothing to get excited about. The forecast is a blank run for the entire 16 days, which is a tough one for this area, but it happens. Conditions can change, so keep an eye on it, but right now, I’d save the wax and find something else to do.

- Rusty

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