Estaleiro Reef Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s cookin’ for Estaleiro Reef over the next couple of weeks.

First thing’s first – this spot is a reef setup, and it’s inconsistent. So when it turns on, you gotta be ready. The water temp is about average for the time of year, nothing wild there.

The outlook kicks off Monday, August 17th, with a small window of clean surf. Monday morning brings a 5ft swell from the ENE, with a period of 8 seconds and a light cross-offshore breeze from the N. The combined energy is moderate (288). It’s rideable, but nothing to write home about. Monday afternoon turns cross and drops off, so don’t expect much.

Tuesday, August 18th, is pretty similar. Morning has a 4ft ENE swell, clean with light cross-off wind, and energy at 208. Again, just okay. Afternoon gets a little cross-chop, but still surfable. Wednesday, August 19th, is a write-off – light onshores and small, weak waves.

Thursday, August 20th, is tiny, with a 2ft swell and only 68 energy. Clean but barely breaking. Friday, August 21st, the morning is blown out by a strong 15 mph W wind, but hold on – Friday afternoon is a gem. The wind drops to a near-calm 3 mph from the WSW, cross-off, and the swell bumps up to 4ft from the ENE with 8 seconds and 223 energy. Clean. That’s a standout for the first week.

Saturday, August 22nd, has a clean little 3ft wave in the morning with offshore wind, but it’s small. Afternoon turns onshore.

Now, Sunday, August 23rd, is a weird one. Morning sees a 6ft SSE swell (9 seconds) with 836 energy, but it’s cross-on and light. The wave comment says marginal, so don’t get too excited. It could be a bit lumpy.

Monday, August 24th, is for experts only. The morning has a 8ft SSE swell, with a 12-second period and a massive 1927 combined energy. That’s a serious groundswell, but the wind is cross-on at 9 mph and the forecast says it’s too big for this break. The period is long – over 11 seconds – and at a reef, that could mean some real power, but with the wind and size, it’s a skippers-only affair. The afternoon drops off fast and gets choppy.

After that, the surf goes flat. From Tuesday, August 25th, through to Friday, August 28th, we’re looking at nothing but tiny, poor waves with onshore or cross winds. A real dry spell. Saturday, August 29th, brings a 6ft SSE swell but with 12 mph onshore winds and 443 energy – choppy, messy, and not worth paddling out.

But then, the week opens up. Sunday, August 30th, afternoon is a special moment. The wind goes glassy, dead calm, with a 3ft ESE swell and a 10-second period. Energy is 279 and the wave comment says expect good surf conditions. For an inconsistent reef, that glassy window is the real prize.

Monday, August 31st, is also a cracker. Morning has offshore wind from the NW, clean, with a 3ft ESE swell at 10 seconds and 211 energy. The afternoon is even better – a 3 mph cross-off from the WNW, same swell size but with an 11-second period and 294 energy. Clean, lined up, and that longer period will give you some real push.

So, the standout sessions are Friday afternoon, August 21st, and the late Sunday, August 30th, into Monday, August 31st. The first week’s best is Friday arvo – light winds, clean, decent energy. For the second week, Sunday afternoon’s glassy conditions and Monday’s clean longer-period swell are the ones to circle. The rest of the fortnight is pretty average.

This is Rusty, signing off.

Read more