La Derecha del Cartel Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on offer for the next couple of weeks.

The overall pattern is pretty quiet. We’ve got a long stretch of small, weak surf with only a few moments that are worth paddling out for. The first real window of opportunity doesn’t arrive until the 14th of August, so you’ll be sitting through a fair few days of tiny, ordinary waves before anything gets interesting.

The only spot on the radar is La Derecha del Cartel, a reef break that’s fairly consistent but exposed to the swell. For the first week, from the 6th through to the 13th, it’s mostly a story of poor surf or very ordinary conditions. Waves are small, often under 3ft, with weak combined swell energy. Thursday morning the 6th starts with a 5ft NE swell, but it’s short period at 6 seconds and the energy is only moderate (173). The wind is cross-off, so it’s clean, but the waves are nothing special. Water temp is sitting at 74°, which is about average for this time of year.

The standout arrives on Friday the 14th of August. The afternoon brings a solid 5ft NE swell with a period of 7 seconds and combined energy of 228 (moderate). The wind swings offshore from the SE, creating clean, lined-up waves. This is the best session of the entire run – the swell size is good for intermediates, and the offshore wind will keep the faces smooth. The break is a reef, so it should handle the direction well. Expect crowds to be possible here, as it’s often busy.

The 16th of August Sunday morning also shows some promise with a 5ft NE swell, clean offshore wind from the SSE, and energy of 189 (moderate). It’s a slightly smaller version of the 14th, but still a solid option for a paddle.

Beyond that, the last week dries up quickly. The 17th through the 21st are mostly weak, with tiny swells and poor conditions. The 18th of August Tuesday afternoon even shows no swell at all. It’s a real fade-out.

So, to sum it up: the best wave of the whole forecast is the Friday 14th August afternoon at La Derecha del Cartel. Second best is the Sunday 16th August morning. The rest is a long wait for small, ordinary surf.

Rusty.

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