Fistral-South Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Gotta be straight with you – it’s a tough run ahead for Fistral-South. The next couple of weeks are looking pretty grim for a proper paddle session. We’ve got a long, dry spell on the horizon, but let’s walk through it day by day so you know what you’re dealing with.

Starting off this Sunday the 19th, the morning is actually the cleanest we’ll see for a while with a light offshore breeze, but the swell is a pathetic 3 ft from the NNW with a short, weak 6-second period. The energy is a measly 48, so you’re looking at tiny, gutless lines. By the afternoon, it’s gone completely. We’re looking at a solid week of nothing here. From Sunday afternoon all the way through to Saturday the 26th, the surf is basically flat or blown out with onshore winds. Monday the 20th through Friday the 24th offers nothing worth your time – 0.3 ft to 1 ft of slop with cross-shore winds. There’s a brief pulse on the 22nd and 23rd with a 3 ft of swell, but it’s a short-period windswell from the North with a nasty cross-shore breeze, making it a choppy, messy affair. Not worth a second look.

The first real sign of life comes on Sunday the 26th, but it’s a bit of a tease. The swell builds to 4 ft from the W, but the period is still a crappy 6 seconds, and we’ve got a fresh cross-onshore wind. The energy is moderate (120), but it’s going to be a lumpy, blown-out mess. Then we get a bit of a window. Monday the 27th morning sees onshore wind with 2 ft, but the afternoon picks up to 4 ft from the W at 9 seconds, and the energy jumps to 231. The wind is straight onshore, so it’s not clean, but at least there’s some push.

Tuesday the 28th is the best on offer in this whole gloomy forecast. The morning shows 5 ft from the WNW with a 9-second period. The energy is strong at 287. The wind is a light offshore from the NNW, which will keep the face clean. This is a proper groundswell window, and the longer period will mean some decent shape and longer lulls between sets. It’s a moderate wave, not too big, so it’s still okay for a confident intermediate. The afternoon drops off a bit to 3 ft, but still clean. This is the one day to circle – Tuesday the 28th morning. It won’t be perfect, but it’s the best we’re going to get.

After that, it fades again. Wednesday the 29th and Thursday the 30th are back down to 2 ft with cross-onshore winds. There’s a glimmer on Friday the 31st, with a strong offshore wind from the ESE at 22 mph, and a 3 ft to 4 ft swell from the WNW. The energy is moderate (136), but the wind is howling. The morning is “fresh offshore and clean,” but the afternoon is “strong offshore and clean but hard to paddle into.” That wind is so strong it’ll be tough to hold your line, and the short 6-second period means the waves will be quick and dumpy. That’s expert-only territory, and even then, it’s a battle.

The first week of August sees a return of onshore and cross-shore winds with moderate swell up to 5 ft, but the wind is ruining it. The energy is solid (225 on the 2nd), but it’s a lumpy, wind-blown mess. Honestly, for the most part, this setup looks more interesting for a kite surfer than a paddle surfer, especially on the windier days.

So, to sum it up: we’ve got a week of almost nothing, then a small window around Tuesday the 28th for a clean, fun-sized wave. Don’t get your hopes up for the rest. The water temperature is about average for this time of year, so no surprises there.

- Rusty

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