Estaleiro Reef Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the table for the next couple of weeks.

Alright, so the first thing you need to know is that the start of this forecast window is a real bummer. We’re looking at a gap of a few days with no real surf worth mentioning. The first decent chance of a wave doesn’t come until the 7th of September, and even then, it’s pretty marginal. The pattern overall is a bit of a slow roll with a few bright spots, especially if you’re patient.

We start off with nothing on the 5th and 6th – just poor conditions, cross-onshore winds, and weak, messy swell. Hang tight.

The first real glimmer comes on the 7th (Monday morning) at Estaleiro Reef. The swell is a clean 6 ft from the south (S) with a period of 9 seconds. The combined energy is moderate (662). It’s a bit of a lumpy setup with cross-onshore wind, and the forecaster says it’s marginal. Not a classic, but it’s the first wave on offer.

The quality picks up from the 8th. Tuesday morning the 8th is clean, with a light cross-offshore breeze. The swell is small, 2 ft from the southeast, and the energy is weak (93). It’s surfable, but you’ll be working for it.

Now, the standout for the first week is Wednesday the 9th. Estaleiro Reef is looking good in the morning. Offshore wind from the northwest (NW) at 6 mph, glassy clean conditions. The swell is 4 ft from the east (E) with an 8-second period, giving moderate energy (299). The forecast says "expect good surf conditions," and for a reef break, that’s the real deal. This is your best chance in the first week. The swell direction is east, and the optimum for this spot is east-southeast (ESE), so it’s a decent match. The water is about 68°F, which is a degree warmer than the average for this time of year, so it’s a touch warmer than usual.

Thursday the 10th morning is also a treat. Glassy conditions again, with a 3 ft east swell and a strong 355 energy reading. That’s clean, but the swell is a bit smaller than Wednesday.

The weekend rolls in, and things get a bit messy. The 12th (Saturday) has light offshore winds, but the swell is small and ordinary. The real event is on the 14th (Monday). That morning, Estaleiro Reef is forecast to get a big 7 ft swell from the east-southeast, with a 11-second period and a very strong 1237 combined energy. The wind is light and cross-offshore, so it’ll be clean. But here’s the catch: the guidance says the swell is predicted to be too big for this break. For a reef, that’s a red flag – it’s likely going to be a washing machine, only for experts. The 14th is a full week away, so keep an eye on it, but be warned.

After that, from the 15th through the 20th, it’s mostly poor conditions again. The swell direction swings to the east, but the wind is onshore or cross-onshore, and the quality is rotten. The 18th (Friday) has a long period swell from the southeast (14 seconds), but it’s only 2 ft and the wind is all wrong, so it’s a write-off.

The best on offer is Wednesday the 9th morning. That’s the one. If you’re determined, Thursday the 10th morning is a close second. For the long-range, the 14th morning is a huge, powerful swell, but it’s a beast for experts only and it’s two weeks out, so don’t hold your breath.

Stay safe out there.

Rusty

Read more