Focene or Baraonda Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. We’re looking at a pretty grim stretch for Focene or Baraonda. Honestly, the next week and a half is a write-off for any kind of decent paddle surfing. The water is sitting at a balmy 85°, which is much warmer than normal for this time of year, but that’s about the only thing going for it.

We’ve got a massive gap with no real surf on offer. From Wednesday the 12th right through to the morning of Saturday the 22nd of August, it’s a long, flat, and frustrating run. The swell is tiny, the period is short, and the wind is mostly junk. The combined energy is barely registering, often just 1 to 7 (weak energy) – it’s essentially a lake. The only whisper of a wave is a tiny 1ft, period under 5 seconds, which is just not enough to do anything with. Most of the time the wind is onshore or cross-onshore, making the little bit of water that’s moving a choppy mess. For a beginner spot that’s fairly consistent, this is a real bummer, but it happens.

Now, things start to look a little more interesting on the morning of Saturday the 22nd of August. We see a bump in swell to 4ft from the WSW with a period of 6 seconds, giving us a combined energy of 105 (moderate). The wind is a light offshore from the E at 9 mph, which will clean things up. The conditions are described as "gentle offshore and clean", so it will be rideable, but the waves are still ordinary. The swell is still pretty small and weak, so it’s not a standout, just a sign of life.

The real highlight, the only one worth marking on the calendar, looks to be Friday the 21st of August. The afternoon sees a bump in swell to 5ft from the WSW, with a period of 7 seconds and a combined energy hitting 235 (moderate energy). For Focene, that’s a decent pulse. The problem is the wind is blowing a strong 16 mph from the WSW, which is a cross-onshore. The conditions are described as "moderate cross-onshore and choppy." This is a tough one – the swell is there, but the wind is going to wreck it. The morning of the 21st is smaller at 5ft but with a similar cross-onshore wind. This is a case of the swell being over 5ft but the wind making it a struggle. For a beginner spot, this is getting into expert territory with the chop, and honestly, the setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing.

The next morning, Saturday the 22nd, as I mentioned, is the best bet for a clean-ish wave with the offshore wind, but the swell drops to 4ft. It’s not a classic, but it's the only time the wind and swell align. After that, the swell drops off again.

So, to sum it up: the entire first week is a total flat spell. The only real chance for a wave is the 21st and 22nd of August, but the 21st will be blown out and the 22nd is small. Keep an eye on the forecast, but for now, don’t bother paddling out until at least the 22nd.

Rusty.

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