La Santa - El Quemao Surf Forecast and Surf Report

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

Well, I’m not gonna sugarcoat it – this outlook is a tough one for the surfers. We’re looking at La Santa - El Quemao, a heavy reef break, and it’s been getting hammered by a persistent, strong onshore wind. The first week and a half is pretty much a write-off, with the wind howling from the NNE at 19 to 28 mph, consistently cross-onshore. That’s turning what could be a solid swell into a lumpy, messy, and choppy mess. The waves are there, pushing 7 ft to 10 ft through the 26th of July, with the combined energy of all swells climbing from 373 to a very strong 1172, but the wind is just ruining it. For a wave this size at a place like this, it’s expert territory anyway, but with those conditions, it’s a no-go for anyone.

The water temp is sitting at 72°F, which is about normal for the time of year, so at least you won’t be freezing while you’re sitting out there getting blown around.

The pattern doesn’t really let up. We go through the end of July and into the first week of August with the same story: fresh to moderate cross-onshore winds, and the swell height drops and rises. There’s a brief moment on the 1st of August where the wind eases off a bit – a gentle breeze from the NE at 9 mph – and the swell is still around 7 ft. The combined energy is moderate at 494. This is described as “marginal,” not a classic. It’s the closest we get to a window, but it’s still a cross-shore wind, not the clean offshore we are after. It’s a real shame because the swell direction is NNE, and this spot wants a WNW swell for its best shape. So even when we get a chance, the swell is coming from the wrong angle.

After that, the wind picks up again, and by the 5th and 6th of August, we see a tiny 2 ft to 3 ft swell coming in from the WNW and NNW with a longer period of 10 to 12 seconds. That’s a much better direction, but the size is tiny, and the wind is still cross-onshore. The energy is weak, at 90 to 139, so it’s not doing anything.

So, to be honest, there is no standout winner here. The whole 16-day window is a dud for paddle surfing. The setup is much more interesting for kite surfing than anything else. It’s a blank run. Sometimes that’s just how it goes in this region. Forecasts can change, but as it stands, you’re better off keeping the board in the car.

Rusty.

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