Estaleiro Reef Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s cookin’ at Estaleiro Reef.

Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you – the first week or so is a real mixed bag. We’ve got some swell, but the wind is gonna be a cruel mistress. The water is sitting at 67°, which is bang on average for this time of year, so no surprises there.

The first real chance to get wet is on Friday morning, 7 August. We’re looking at a small 3ft swell from the ENE with a period of only 8 seconds. The combined energy is weak, just 94, so it’s not gonna have much grunt. But the wind is a light offshore from the W at 6 mph, which will keep it clean. It’s surfable, but pretty ordinary. Don’t expect much.

Things get a bit more interesting on Saturday afternoon, 8 August. The swell drops to 3ft, but it’s a long-period groundswell from the SE at 15 seconds. That’s a proper pulse, pushing combined energy up to 340 (moderate). The wind swings offshore from the NW at 6 mph, so it’ll be clean. For a reef break, that long period is a good thing – it’ll line up nicely. This is the best of the first week, but it’s still small.

We then hit a real rough patch. From Sunday morning, 9 August, all the way through Tuesday, 11 August, it’s mostly poor. The wind is a cross-onshore mess, and the conditions are choppy. Not worth paddling out.

Now, here’s where it gets promising. Wednesday morning, 12 August, sees a light cross-offshore wind from the SW at 6 mph, with a 3ft swell from the SE at 13 seconds. The combined energy is 356 (moderate), and the conditions are clean. This is a solid little window. And Wednesday afternoon gets even better – glassy conditions with a light offshore from the W at 3 mph. That’s the kind of afternoon you live for, even if the swell is only 3ft.

Thursday, 13 August, also looks good with a light offshore from the NW. The swell ticks up to 3ft from the SE with a period of 14 seconds, giving us a combined energy of 313 (moderate). Clean and lined up.

But then, from Friday, 14 August, through Sunday, 16 August, it’s back to poor conditions. The wind is onshore or cross-onshore, and it’s messy.

Now, for the real standout. Hold onto your board. Monday morning, 17 August, is an absolute gem. The wind is dead calm – glassy – with a 6ft swell from the E at 8 seconds. The combined energy jumps to 445 (strong). It’s clean, it’s got punch, and it’s a great size for intermediate surfers. This is the best session on offer in the whole period.

Tuesday, 18 August, brings a massive pulse. The swell pumps up to 10ft from the E at 10 seconds, with a combined energy of 1545 in the morning and 1979 in the afternoon (very strong). The wind is offshore from the WNW, but this is too big for Estaleiro Reef. This is strictly for experts only, and even then, it’s a big call. The data says it’s too big for this break. I’d say give it a miss unless you’re a seasoned charger.

Wednesday, 19 August, is still oversized at 8ft and 7ft from the E, with offshore winds. Still too big for the average punter.

Thursday, 20 August, things settle down. The morning brings a 6ft swell from the E at 10 seconds, with a light offshore from the WNW. The combined energy is 706 (strong). The conditions are clean and the size is manageable. This is a very good day.

The final part of the forecast, from Friday, 21 August, to Saturday, 22 August, has some smaller, cleaner windows. The best bet is Saturday morning, 22 August, with a 3ft swell from the E, light cross-offshore wind from the SW, and a combined energy of 315 (moderate). It’s clean and fun.

So, to wrap it up: the standout sessions are Monday morning, 17 August, for the glassy 6ft E swell, and Thursday morning, 20 August, for the clean 6ft E swell. Wednesday afternoon, 12 August, is also a great little clean session. The rest is a lot of waiting for the wind to play nice.

Rusty.

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