Cintsa West Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s coming up at Cintsa West.

Overall, this forecast is a bit of a mixed bag. We’ve got some solid swell windows, but the wind is gonna be a real chatterbox for most of the run, keeping things messy. A lot of cross-shore and cross-onshore breeze will chop things up, so we’re lookin’ at a stretch of marginal to poor conditions for a good while. There is a proper spike in size coming in the second week, but you’ll have to work around the wind. The standout window is Thursday the 20th, and then there’s a monster pulse a day later, but that one’s raw.

Starting off this Monday afternoon, the 10th of August, we’ve got a light onshore breeze chopping up a 4ft SE swell with only an 8-second period. Wave energy is moderate (412), but the conditions are just too junky to get excited about – light rain and cross-on wind doesn’t make for a good session.

Tuesday the 11th is a write-off. That morning sees an onshore 12 mph wind with a 7ft S swell, but it’s a complete mess. The afternoon drops to 4ft but is still sloppy with a strong cross-onshore wind.

Wednesday the 12th through Saturday the 15th is that long stretch of so-so conditions. You’ll see chest to head-high sets (5ft to 6ft) from the east, but the wind sits stubbornly cross-shore, creating a nasty chop. The swell period bounces between a weak 7 seconds and a better 12 seconds, but the cross-chop makes it a grind. It’s not totally flat, but it’s not the kind of surf you drive for.

Now, here’s the first glimmer. On Saturday the 15th afternoon, the swell bumps up to 6ft from the east with a 12-second period. The wind drops to a light breeze (6 mph) and the combined energy climbs to a strong 1316. It’s still cross-shore, so there’s a bit of a ripple, but the improved period and lighter wind make it a better chance for a few clean runners if you pick your bank.

Sunday the 16th morning has the biggest energy of this first block: a 7ft ENE swell at 12 seconds pumping out 2065 combined energy. But again, a 9 mph cross-shore breeze messes with the surface. It’s a powerful, good-looking swell that’s just getting a little lumped up by the wind. If you can handle a bit of a cross-chop, there’s proper push.

Monday the 17th and Tuesday the 18th fade back into weaker, smaller, and wind-affected surf, so don’t get your hopes up there.

The Big Move – Thursday 20th August. This is the best on offer for clean conditions. Thursday morning, the wind goes completely glassy – a 3 mph breeze from the SSE with “glass” written all over it. The swell is a solid 6ft from the east. It’s a shorter period (6 seconds), so it’ll be a bit soft and crumbly, but with zero wind, Cintsa West will be as smooth as a mirror. For a point break that likes a SE direction, this east swell is perfect. The water is currently sitting at 64°, which is a chilly 4° colder than usual for this time of year – so you’ll want a good thick steamer.

The Absolute Standout (for experts) – Friday 21st and Saturday 22nd August. Now, this is a big one. Friday the 21st sees a massive pulse of groundswell. The morning brings a 13ft SE swell at a long 12 seconds, with combined energy shooting up to 4484 – that’s very strong. Friday afternoon pumps even harder: 15ft from the SE, 12 seconds, with a whopping 6452 energy reading. This is big, powerful, heavy water. The problem is that the wind is a fresh 19-22 mph cross-shore, making it lumpy and dangerous. This is strictly for big-wave chargers and heavy-gun riders. For the average surfer, it’s a channel watch and a show. The swell hangs on through Saturday the 22nd at 12ft to 13ft, but the wind is still cross-shore. This setup with that much swell and strong cross-wind looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing for most people.

After that, the swell drops back down to 4ft to 7ft through Sunday the 23rd to Tuesday the 25th, with the wind still mostly cross-shore. The water looks a bit messy, so the run finishes quiet.

So, if you want glassy clean walls, hit Thursday the 20th morning. If you want to see proper pulse and power, the 21st is a monster, but it’s a messy one only for the brave.

Rusty.

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