Faja da Areia Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get into it for this stretch. We’ve got a slow start, but there’s a promise of some proper waves later on if you’re patient.

The first few days are a bit of a write-off, to be honest. From Sunday the 19th through until Wednesday the 22nd, we’re looking at small, weak, short-period slop. Swell heights are barely lifting 3 feet, period is a paltry 5 to 7 seconds, and the combined energy is weak. The wind is a persistent light cross-onshore, which isn’t helping. It’s poor surf, plain and simple. The break is Faja da Areia, a point break that’s already inconsistent, and it’s just not working with this northerly wind and small NE windswell. The water temp is about average for the time of year.

Thursday the 23rd gets a little more interesting. The swell pushes up to about 5 feet from the NNE, with a period of 8 seconds. The combined energy climbs into the moderate range. It’s still cross-on and only marginal, but it’s an improvement. The morning looks cleaner than the afternoon.

Friday the 24th and Saturday the 25th are a bit of a step back, with the energy dropping and the period shortening again. The wave state is back to poor. Sunday the 26th sees the swell nudge up to about 6 feet, but the period is still short and the wind is a bit stronger, making for a choppy surface.

Now, here’s the standout part of the outlook. The period from Tuesday the 29th of July through to the end of the first week of August is where we need to be looking. The swell really starts to build. By Wednesday the 30th, we’re seeing 10 feet of groundswell from the NNE, with a period of 10 seconds and combined energy readings hitting very strong. This is proper, powerful energy. At that size, it’s expert-only territory – over 8 feet, so leave the beginners on the beach. The wind is still a cross-onshore breeze, but it’s light, so the surf will be fairly clean despite the size. This is a big, powerful NW swell hitting an exposed point that works best with a NNW direction, so the NNE direction is a reasonable match. Given the size and the long period, this will be a proper, heavy groundswell. It’s not going to be a friendly, easy paddle.

Friday the 31st and Saturday the 1st of August keep the swell size between 7 feet and 8 feet, with the period still around 10 seconds. The energy is still strong, but the wind picks up a bit, putting some chop on the face. The following Sunday and Monday, the 2nd and 3rd, see the swell drop back a bit, settling into the 5 feet to 6 feet range with a 9-second period, still with moderate energy. It’s still a cross-on wind, but it’s a better size for more people.

So, the real highlight is the 30th of July. If you’re a confident, experienced surfer, that’s the day to circle. 10 feet of groundswell with a decent period and light wind. It’s going to be big and powerful. For the rest of us, the last few days of July and the first few days of August offer a more manageable step down in size, with the 5 to 7 foot range being the sweet spot. Just remember, the wind is a constant cross-onshore, so it’ll never be glassy, but it’ll be rideable.

Rusty.

Read more