Castillo del Rubicón - Playa Blanca Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s be real here. This 16-day stretch for Castillo del Rubicón – Playa Blanca is a tough one to swallow. This is an advanced reef break that faces west, and it's pretty inconsistent even when conditions are good. Out of the whole run, I’m only seeing a couple of mornings that might barely give you something to ride, but nothing to get stoked about. The water temp is sitting at 74°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year – not a big deal.

It's a quiet start. From Wednesday, July 29th all the way through Friday, July 31st, there's just nothing. Tiny waves, around 0.7 ft to 1 ft, with some wind but the main problem is the lack of any real swell energy. Even though the wind is offshore and clean, the combined swell energy is only in the 20s and 40s (like 48, 41, 23) – way too weak to surf. That’s a three-day blank.

Then we roll into Saturday, August 1st. The swell finally shows a pulse – 4 ft from the north at a short period of 7 seconds. That combined energy jumps to 239 (moderate), so there’s life. But the wind is cross-offshore, not the cleanest, and it's a last-resort kind of wave for advanced surfers only. Sunday, August 2nd morning holds a similar vibe: 4 ft north swell, 7-second period, energy at 239, still cross-off wind. You might get a few close-outs, but it's not gonna be a classic session.

Monday, August 3rd and Tuesday, August 4th see the swell drop way back to 1 ft to 2 ft from the WNW, period around 9 seconds. The wind turns offshore again, but the energy is pathetic – in the 50s and 60s (like 76, 62, 57). It’s surfable but very ordinary.

The one that catches my eye is the morning of Friday, August 7th. Swell is still small at 2 ft from the WNW, but the period is a long 12 seconds, which is a proper groundswell. Wind is a gentle offshore breeze from the NNE at 9 mph. The combined energy is 80, still weak, but the quality of the wave might make it worthwhile for a skilled surfer on a longboard. The longer period means the wave will have better shape and more push than the height suggests. This is your best chance, but it’s still a marginal call.

Saturday, August 8th afternoon sees the swell bump to 5 ft from the north, but with a short 7-second period and cross-off wind. Energy is 295 (moderate to strong). It’s a bit of a mess, and honestly, with the windy conditions and short-period chop, this setup might be more interesting for a kite surfer than a paddle surfer.

From Sunday, August 9th through to Monday, August 10th, the wind really picks up – 19 to 22 mph from the north, cross-off. The swell stays around 5 ft to 5 ft, but the period stays short at 7 seconds, and the energy pushes into the 300s. All that wind and short-period swell equals poor conditions. Again, a kite session might be on, but not worth the paddle.

Things settle a bit on Tuesday, August 11th with offshore wind and a 4 ft north swell, but the period drops to 6 seconds – very short and weak. The energy is 153 (still moderate but sloppy). Wednesday, August 12th morning has a similar 4 ft to 4 ft north swell, 6-second period, but offshore wind and a combined energy of 205. This is a marginal option, but only if you're desperate and an expert.

The final day, Thursday, August 13th, we're back to tiny 1 ft waves from the NNW with no real energy.

The best on offer: If you’re an advanced surfer who can make the most of small, clean, long-period swell, then the morning of Friday, August 7th is your window. The 2 ft swell with a 12-second period and light offshore breeze will give you the cleanest, most lined-up waves of the whole stretch. It’s not big, but it’s the only day that feels like real surfing.

Stay patient, friends. It’s a slow season here.

- Rusty

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