Cap Sim Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here, let’s take a look at what’s coming up for Cap Sim.

Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you – the next couple of weeks are looking pretty lean for real quality at Cap Sim. We’ve got a lot of days where the wind is just blasting sideways, keeping things messy. The swell is mostly short-period, wind-driven stuff, which is fine for a flog, but not for the kind of waves that get your heart pumping.

The first real chance we get is on Tuesday, July 28th. It’s a morning session, with a 3 ft swell from the NNW at a short 7 seconds. The combined energy is moderate (152). The wind is a cross-offshore from the north, which is good for the lineup, keeping it fairly clean. It’s just ordinary, surfable waves, nothing to write home about, but it’s the best of a quiet start.

Wednesday the 29th and Thursday the 30th drop right off. The swell fades hard, and the wind picks up strong. The water temp is about average for the time of year, so no complaints on the wetsuit front.

Friday, July 31st sees a bit of a pulse. The morning brings 6 ft of short-period north swell, with moderate energy (257). The wind is still a cross-off, but it’s a bit lighter. The report says marginal, but on a reef, that short-period north swell can get a bit closed out. It’s a gamble, but the only one in town.

Saturday, August 1st has a similar story – 4 ft north swell, but the wind eases off in the afternoon to a light breeze. The surf is still ordinary, but at least the wind won’t be ruining it.

Sunday the 2nd is another drop-off, with the north wind blowing moderate again. Not worth the drive.

Monday, August 3rd gets a bit of a jump in the afternoon, with 6 ft of short-period north swell (energy 298), but the wind is a strong cross-off, making it a mess. Tuesday the 4th has a similar size, but the morning actually has offshore wind. That’s 6 ft from the north, but it’s only 6 seconds. The energy is moderate (295). The offshore wind is a huge plus, but that short period and size will make it a bit of a battle to get in and could be a bit hefty for the average surfer, suited more to the experienced crew.

The stand-out day, if you can call it that, is looking like Thursday, August 6th. The morning shows 5 ft of north swell, still short period, but the wind drops to a light breeze, giving us clean conditions. The energy is moderate (231). The report says "expect good surf conditions." It’s not a groundswell, so you won’t get those long, lined-up walls, but it’ll be the cleanest waves of the whole window. It’s the one to target.

After that, it’s a wasteland until the very end of the outlook. The wind goes howling again, and the swell disappears. We see a bit of a spike in size on the 10th and 11th of August, with swell pushing 7 ft to 8 ft. But the wind is always a stiff cross-off or side-shore, and the period is still short. That’s a recipe for a washing machine, not a wave. At that size and with that wind, it’s going to be a mess, more interesting for the kite crew than anyone trying to paddle.

So, for the whole 16 days, the honest truth is: Thursday morning, August 6th is your best bet. It’s not a world-class day, but it’s the only time the wind and swell line up for a clean session. The rest of the time, you’re fighting the elements.

Stay stoked, Rusty.

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