Estaleiro Reef Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, surfers, Rusty here. Let's take a close look at what's cookin' for the next couple of weeks. It's a bit of a mixed bag, and we've got to be patient.

Right off the bat, you're looking at a real quiet spell. The first proper surf worth paddling out for doesn't show up until Monday morning, the 18th of August. Before that, it's a flat, un-surfable wait. But when that Monday morning arrives, Estaleiro Reef has a little pulse. You've got a clean 4 ft swell from the ENE with an 8-second period. The wind is light, coming from the NW, which is a nice cross-off breeze. The water is a pleasant 66°, which is bang on average for this time of year. The combined energy is a modest 208, so it's not a powerhouse, but it's clean. That afternoon stays similar with a 4 ft swell and light wind, keeping things tidy.

Tuesday the 19th is a write-off. The wind swings onshore and the surf drops off. Wednesday the 20th is even worse—tiny, onshore, and just ordinary. Thursday the 21st has a bit of a cleaner look with a cross-off wind, but the swell is barely there at 3 ft. Friday the 22nd is a tease. The morning is glassy, with a small 2 ft SE swell, but the period is a touch longer at 10 seconds, giving it a little more shape. The energy is 155, still weak. Saturday the 23rd is similar, glassy again in the morning, with a 3 ft, 11-second period SE swell. You’ll be scratching for waves, but it’s clean.

Now, here's where it gets a bit interesting, but also a bit tricky. On Monday the 24th, the swell jumps up. We’re looking at a 3 ft to 4 ft SE swell with a very long 14-second period. The combined energy spikes to 424 and 487, which is moderate. That's a real groundswell, but the wind is cross-onshore and onshore, so the surf will be lumpy and messy. This is a real “would’ve been epic” if the wind played ball.

Tuesday the 25th brings a change. The morning cleans right up with a light offshore wind from the NW. The swell is a bit smaller at 3 ft, but the period is still a solid 13 seconds. The energy is 205, and conditions are clean. This is a good window for a session. Wednesday the 26th offers another chance. The morning is offshore again from the NW, with a 2 ft, 14-second SE swell. The energy is a more impressive 295, but the size is small. However, the afternoon throws a curveball: a 4 ft NE swell with a short 7-second period and a combined energy of 343. The wind is a light cross-off, so it will be clean, but that short period will make for a bit of a lumpy, pushy wave.

The standouts? Honestly, the best on offer is Tuesday morning, the 25th of August. It’s not big, but a clean 3 ft, 13-second groundswell with offshore wind at Estaleiro Reef is a beautiful thing. It’s a reef break, so it’ll handle that long period well, and it’s inconsistent, so you might have it to yourself. The other highlight is that Wednesday afternoon, the 26th. The 4 ft from the NE is the biggest swell of the forecast, and with clean conditions, it’s worth a look, even if the period is short.

After that, the last week of August and into September looks grim. The 27th and 28th have some small, clean waves, but nothing to get excited about. From the 29th of August right through to the 2nd of September, it’s a run of onshore winds, rain, and tiny, choppy surf. The 30th has some size, with a 4 ft SSE swell, but the wind is howling cross-onshore. That setup at a beach-and-reef spot like Estaleiro looks more interesting for kite surfing than a paddle session.

So, to sum it up: get on it Tuesday the 25th morning for the cleanest, most lined-up waves, and maybe Wednesday the 26th afternoon for a bit more size. The rest is a waiting game. Stay patient, mates.

Rusty.

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