Cintsa West Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let's get into it. The next 16 days are a mixed bag for Cintsa West, with some clean windows if you're patient, but plenty of wind and chop in between.

The start of the period is pretty average. Sunday the 26th has a bit of swell, around 5ft from the SSW with a 12-second period and moderate wave energy (654). But a 6 mph NE crosswind leaves it a bit bumpy. Not worth getting excited about. The following Monday and Tuesday are worse – gusty crosswinds and onshore slop thanks to a SE flow isn't doing us any favours. For the rest of that first week, the swell hangs around 3ft to 6ft, but the wind is mostly cross or cross-onshore, so the surface is never really clean. That period feels long and you’re better off waiting.

Now, there’s a real standout on the 31st. Friday morning brings a glassy session. The wind drops to a dead calm 3 mph from the S, the swell is a manageable 4ft from the ESE at 9 seconds, but with that glassy surface (480 energy), it's going to be clean and fun. It’s a short window, but for a quick dawny, it’s the best bet in that first week.

We then hit a dead patch. Saturday the 1st and Sunday the 2nd are messy with strong NE winds and lumpy 3ft to 10ft wind swell. That 10ft on Sunday morning (2078 energy) is big, but the 19 mph NE crosswind makes it a washing machine – more for the kite crew than paddle surfers. So there's a quiet gap for a few days.

But hold onto your board, because the second week is where it gets interesting. Monday the 3rd morning shows potential again – glassy conditions and a clean 4ft wave from the E (436 energy). Good for a paddle.

The real prize, though, is the 4th. Tuesday morning is looking special. Glassy again (3 mph SE), 4ft from the SE but with a long 13-second period (601 energy). This is the kind of groundswell that loves a point break like Cintsa West, offering clean lines, longer sets, and easy paddles. That is the window to circle on your calendar.

Later in the week, Thursday the 6th morning (6 August) has a clean 7ft ENE swell (937 energy) with a light N cross-off breeze. That's going to be fun for the experienced crew – a bit of size but very clean. And if you want the biggest clean surf of the whole run, Sunday the 9th morning delivers a solid 10ft from the ENE (2088 energy) with a 9-second period and a light SW cross-off. That’s proper, and the data calls it excellent for experienced surfers. But remember, that 10ft is expert territory.

Cintsa West is a point break and it can be inconsistent, but when it lines up like it does on the 4th and the 9th, it's special. The crowds come out when it’s good, especially on weekends, so be ready to share.

As for the water, it’s a touch cool for the time of year at 67°F – about average, nothing to worry about.

In the second week, after that 9th, the swell drops back and the wind turns more cross-onshore into Monday and Tuesday. Nothing wrong with it, but not a standout.

So, if you’ve got a flexible schedule, aim for that glassy Tuesday the 4th morning, or the big clean swell on Sunday the 9th morning. The rest of the run is mostly waiting for the magic to line up.

Rusty.

Read more