Ferrugem Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s take a look at what we’ve got cooking at Ferrugem over the next couple of weeks.

First up, the water temp is sitting at 65°, which is just about bang on average for this time of year – nothing weird going on there. The sandbars here are exposed to the swell and the optimum direction is from the SE, so we’ll be watching for that.

Right now, it’s a slow start. There’s nothing worth paddling out for in the first few days. We’ve got a bit of swell on Sunday the 26th, with a clean 3ft SSE swell (12-second period) and light cross-off wind in the morning, giving some clean little waves. The energy is moderate at 377 (combined energy), but the scores aren’t high enough to call it a standout. The afternoon turns to poor conditions as the wind swings.

Monday the 27th starts dead glassy with a tiny 3ft ESE swell (8-second period) – that short period makes for weak, crumbly waves. The energy is low at 166. It’s surfable but very ordinary. Tuesday and Wednesday stay small and messy, with light winds but not enough push. The energy drops to the 100–177 range. Not worth getting excited about.

Now, here’s where things get interesting. Look at Monday the 3rd of August. That morning, we get a clean 4ft SSE swell (10-second period) with a cross-off breeze. The combined energy jumps to 660 (moderate to strong) and the wave comment says “expect very good surf conditions”. This is your first true standout. The swell direction is a solid match for what Ferrugem likes, and the wind is clean. It’s not too big, so fine for intermediates too.

Skip ahead to Wednesday the 5th of August – that’s the other big one. Morning brings a 7ft ENE swell (8-second period), cross-off wind, and the combined energy hits 1023 (strong). That’s a lot of power. The period is short at 8 seconds, so the waves will be a bit crumbly and close together – better for stronger surfers or those on a step-up board. The comment says “excellent surf conditions for experienced surfers” – this is strictly for the crew who know what they’re doing. At 7ft, it’s pushing into expert territory.

Between these two standouts, the rest of the second week is a mix of small, clean but weak days, and some bigger but wind-affected slop. The 6th has a 6ft S swell but with onshore wind – kite surfers might like that more than paddle surfers. The 10th has a 4ft S swell (11-second period) with a cross shore, but the conditions are marginal.

So, to sum it up: the first few days are a write-off. Your best bets are the morning of Monday the 3rd of August for the best combo of size, direction, and clean conditions, and the morning of Wednesday the 5th of August for the biggest, most powerful swell – but only if you’re experienced.

Rusty.

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