Cintsa West Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here again, looking at the same charts but in feet and miles per hour. There’s only one spot in the mix for the next 16 days: Cintsa West. It’s a point break, exposed to the swell, but it’s inconsistent, so you’ve got to be picky. There’s a big gap of nothing early on, so don’t get your hopes up for every session.

Starting Thursday 20 August, the morning has a small 3 ft SSW swell with a 14-second period. The combined energy is moderate at 849, but the wind is a cross-shore from the SW at 9 mph, so it’s a bit messy. Not worth it. The afternoon jumps to 8 ft from the SSW, but with a cross-on breeze and the energy hitting 2350, it’s choppy and no good.

Friday 21 August morning is the standout for the early part. We’ve got a 5 ft SSW swell, 12-second period, and the wind is glassy – a light ESE breeze at 3 mph. The energy is a solid 610, and it’s going to be clean. The swell direction is from the SSE, which is close to the optimum SE direction for this break. This is your best chance for good waves without crowds. The afternoon falls apart with a cross-onshore wind.

Saturday 22 August is a waste. The morning has a clean 3 ft S swell, but the wind is a fresh 19 mph WSW cross-off, making it tricky. The afternoon is even worse: a 8 ft SSW swell at a short period of 7 seconds and a strong 22 mph cross-shore wind. That’s lumpy junk.

Sunday 23 August through Monday 25 August is mostly marginal. Swell is 4 ft to 5 ft from the S and SSW, with periods of 10 to 16 seconds. The wind is light to gentle, but cross-on or cross-shore, so you get small ripples and chop. The energy stays moderate, peaking at 642 on Monday afternoon. Nothing special.

Now, the long-range stuff. Tuesday 25 August morning shows a 5 ft SSW swell with a very long period of 17 seconds, and the energy is strong at 1629. The wind is light from the SW, a light cross-shore. That’s a groundswell with serious power. But for a point break, that long period can make the waves break straight and hard to read. Still promising. The afternoon is similar with a 6 ft SSW swell, 16-second period, but the wind goes onshore from the SE. This one could be a standout if the wind behaves, but it’s a week out, so don’t bet the house.

The next few days, 26 August to 28 August, are mostly poor. Wednesday 26 August has a dirty cross-shore wind from the NE at 16 to 19 mph, with a 4 ft S swell. The energy is moderate to high, but conditions are lumpy. Thursday 27 August morning is a gem: a 4 ft S swell, 12-second period, with a light offshore wind from the WNW at 6 mph. The energy is 808, and it’s clean. That’s a solid window. The afternoon goes back to a cross-shore breeze.

Friday 28 August has a 4 ft ENE swell in the morning, but the wind is cross-on from the E. The afternoon has a bigger 7 ft ENE swell, 10-second period, with a light cross-on breeze. The energy is strong at 1423, but the direction (ENE) is not ideal for this break.

The final weekend, 29 August to 30 August, is a mix. Saturday 29 August has a 6 ft SSW swell, period 9-10 seconds, but the wind is a fresh 16-19 mph from the SW, creating a lumpy cross-chop. Sunday 30 August morning is the best of the late period: a 5 ft S swell, 10-second period, with a light offshore wind from the W at 3 mph. The energy is 686, and it’s clean. That’s worth a paddle.

The last few days, 31 August to 4 September, are mostly marginal or poor. The only bright spot is Tuesday 1 September morning, with a 5 ft SSW swell, 13-second period, and a light cross-off shore wind from the N at 6 mph. The energy is 783, and it’s clean. The afternoon gets a bigger 8 ft SSW swell, 13-second period, but the wind is cross-shore from the SW. That’s a big wave for experts only.

The two real standouts are Friday 21 August morning for the glassy conditions and clean 5 ft swell, and the long-range Tuesday 25 August morning for the powerful groundswell, if you can handle the period. Don’t expect much else.

Rusty.

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