Cahuil Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the cards for Cahuil over the next couple of weeks.

Right off the bat, we’ve got some solid swell, but for the first few days the wind is going to be a bit of a pain, making things messy. Cahuil is a river break that *rarely breaks*, so when it does, you want the stars to align. This week is a bit of a slow burn.

Tuesday morning kicks off with a 10ft WSW swell at a long 13 seconds, packing a punch with strong wave energy (3468), but that northerly cross-off wind is not doing it any favours. It's surfable but feels marginal. The afternoon drops to 8ft and the wind picks up – not a great time to be out there.

Wednesday afternoon is the first little window that gets interesting for a surfer. A 5ft NW swell with offshore wind from the NE at 9 mph. The clean conditions make this one of the better windows in the first week, even if the swell’s not huge. It’s a modest wave, but for an intermediate surfer, it’s a decent chance for a session.

Saturday afternoon shows up with a 5ft W swell, a 12-second period, and moderate energy (1061). The wind is light from the north, and while the report says it’s excellent for experienced surfers, the cleanup might be okay for the bold intermediate if you pick your tides right. It’s a standout in an otherwise average week.

Now, hold onto your board, because Monday the 20th morning brings a monster. A 13ft WSW swell with short 10-second period and a massive combined energy of 3187 – that is strong wave energy. The wind is light offshore from the ENE. However, the call is that the swell is predicted to be too big for Cahuil. This is expert-only territory, and honestly, with that much water moving, it’s likely a washout or just plain dangerous. The afternoon drops to 8ft, which is more manageable but still heavy.

The second week gets dicey. The 26th and 27th see more 10ft to 15ft WSW swells with long periods up to 15 seconds. The energy readings are off the charts – 7873, 7339, 8228 – that’s very strong wave energy. The forecast keeps saying the swell is too big for this break. For the 28th and 29th, we’re looking at 15ft and 12ft swells with similar massive energy, all too big for the break. If you’re an expert with a death wish and a boat, you might look at it, but for anyone else, the water temperature is about average for the time of year, so you won’t freeze while you’re getting pounded.

Given the size and the fact it’s a river break, on the 26th and 27th with the strong cross-off winds, this setup actually looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing.

So, to sum it up: the best bet for a decent paddle is Wednesday afternoon, July 15 for a clean, smaller session, or Saturday afternoon, July 18 if you want a bit more power. Everything else is either too windy, too big, or just plain messy. Stay safe out there.

Rusty.

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