Lajao (Baia dos Golfinhos) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, listen up. Rusty here. We’re looking at Lajao (Baia dos Golfinhos) for the next couple of weeks, and I’ve got to be straight with you – it’s a bit of a waiting game. The surf is pretty ordinary for the first week, but there’s a glimmer of something better in the second week if you’re patient.

The overall pattern is flat and weak to start. Through Sunday the 12th and into the following week, we’re stuck with tiny, short-period windswell. The water temp is about average for this time of year, which is fine, but the waves are just not there. For Sunday the 12th, you’ll see a messy 5ft swell from the ESE with a short 6-second period and a combined energy of only 315 (weak). The wind is a cross-off from the SE, so it’s clean, but the wave quality is marginal at best. On Monday the 13th and Tuesday the 14th, it drops further – 4ft to 3ft of weak, short-period swell. The energy is pitiful, with values like 165 and 90 (weak). Wind is cross to cross-on, so it’s not even clean. This is a real struggle for a paddle.

We then have a gap of several days with no real recommendations. The surf stays small and messy right through to the 19th. The swell height hangs around 3ft to 5ft, but the period is still short (6 to 7 seconds) and the energy is weak to moderate at best, like 199 (weak). The wind is mostly cross-off, so it’s clean, but the waves are just too weak and inconsistent to get excited about. It’s a blank run for a few days.

Now, things start to change around the 20th of July (Monday). The swell picks up a little, with 5ft from the E at 7 seconds and the energy climbing to 270 (moderate). The wind is cross and cross-off, so it’s still a bit messy. By the 21st (Tuesday), we’re looking at 5ft swell from the E with an 8-second period, and energy hitting 264 (moderate). The wind is cross-off and clean. This is still marginal, but the tide is questionable.

The real standout in this outlook is the 24th of July (Friday morning). We’ve got a solid 6ft swell from the ESE with a 9-second period and a combined energy of 737 (strong). The wind is a clean cross-off from the SE. This is the best on offer by a long shot. The wave energy is kicking, and the wind is good. The only caveat is that Lajao is a reef break, and with a 9-second period, it’s a mid-range groundswell that should wrap in nicely. But remember, this is a long-range call – it’s promising but not locked in. The break is very consistent, so if it comes together, it’ll be worth it. Crowds are sometimes an issue here, so you might have some company.

After that, the swell backs off a bit through the 25th and 26th, with 4ft swell from the E and energy dropping to 154 (weak). The wind is still cross-off, but the energy is gone.

So, to wrap it up: the first week is a washout. The standout is the morning of Friday the 24th of July – that’s your best bet. Keep your eyes on that one.

Rusty.

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