Cintsa West Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right then, let’s have a look at what’s on the cards for the next couple of weeks. I’m only looking at the one spot here, Cintsa West, and it’s a bit of a mixed bag, to be honest. The water temperature is sitting at 64°, which is a solid 5° colder than usual for this time of year, so you’ll be wanting a decent steamer.

The first bit of surf that’s worth a mention is on Thursday the 24th of July. Friday morning the 25th looks like the pick of the early days. We’ve got a clean 8 ft swell from the SSW, with a period of 12 seconds and a cross-offshore wind. The wave energy is pumping at 3380 (moderate to strong), but the forecast is saying it’s marginal. For a point break like Cintsa West, that long-period groundswell will wrap in nicely, giving you some proper lines. It’s sizeable though, over 8 ft, so this is strictly for the experienced crew. Beginners, sit this one out.

Then we get a bit of a lull. Saturday the 26th morning looks glassy with a 4 ft SSW swell and a 14-second period, and the energy is 951 (moderate). The wind is dead calm, so it’ll be clean. But it’s inconsistent here, so don’t expect a wave every minute. The rest of the weekend and into next week is a write-off with poor conditions and messy wind.

There’s a big gap of poor surf from Sunday the 27th right through to the end of the month. The wind is onshore or cross-shore and strong, and the swell is either too big and messy or just poor quality. The 31st of July sees a 10 ft ESE swell, but with a strong cross-shore wind, it’s going to be a lumpy, choppy mess. That’s more of a kite-surfing setup than a paddle one.

Now, the real standout is a long way off, but it looks promising. On Tuesday the 4th of August, we’ve got a glassy morning with a 4 ft swell from the E, a 10-second period, and a cross-offshore wind. The energy is 584 (moderate). It’s clean. But the afternoon is the one to circle on the calendar. Absolutely glassy, no wind, and a 3 ft swell from the SSW with a 17-second period. The wave energy shoots up to 1262 (moderate to strong). The forecast says “excellent surf conditions for experienced surfers.” That long period will make it bend beautifully around the point, giving you long, clean walls. It’s a small swell, but with that period and no wind, it’ll be world-class. Just be aware, it’s a long-range call, so don’t book the week off just yet.

The following days, the 5th and 6th of August, have some solid SSW groundswell with periods up to 21 seconds, but the wind is cross-shore, so it’ll be a bit chopped up. Still, there’s energy there.

So, bottom line: the best bet is Friday morning the 25th for the big, clean waves for experts, and the real gem is Tuesday afternoon the 4th of August for that glassy, long-period point break perfection. The rest is a bit of a wait.

Rusty.

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