Lajao (Baia dos Golfinhos) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's get into it.

Look, I'm gonna level with you straight up. We've got Lajao (Baia dos Golfinhos) on the radar for the next sixteen days, and honestly, it's a tough outlook. The whole period is a real mixed bag, mostly of the poor variety. For the first week and a half, you're battling moderate to fresh cross and cross-onshore breezes that are just tearing the surface up. The wave comment says it all: "poor surf conditions" day after day.

Now, the water here is sitting at a warm 81°F, which is bang average for this time of year, so no worries about a steamer.

The real pinch comes from the swell setup. The energy is there, moderate at best, hitting around 242 in the combined energy scale on September 2nd, and even ramping up to a strong 432 on Saturday the 12th, but it's all coming from the east with a short period of just 7 to 9 seconds. That short-period windswell creates a lumpy, weak wave that doesn't have the punch for a proper ride, especially with the wind in the wrong spot.

This spot is a beginner-friendly reef break that is very consistent, meaning it always has something, but what it has right now isn't good. The crowd factor is "sometimes," but honestly, I wouldn't worry about that because you probably won't want to be in the water anyway.

So, what's the best on offer? If you're desperate for a paddle, you've got to look at those few windows where the wind turns cross-offshore. The mornings of September 9th and 10th, and then again on the 16th and 17th, show some clean conditions. On Thursday, September 10th, you're looking at a 5ft swell from ESE with a 15 to 19 mph cross-offshore breeze. The surfaces will be clean, but that period is a pitiful 7 seconds, so it'll be a weak, lully affair. The waves will be fat and mushy. It's the cleanest you'll get, but it's not a standout; it's just the least bad option. Similarly, on Wednesday, September 16th, we have a 5ft swell from the east with that same cross-off breeze, giving us clean conditions and a score of "marginal surf." That's your best bet late in the forecast, but still a long shot.

With the combination of short-period swell and persistent winds, and the fact that the break is an exposed reef, this setup actually looks more interesting for a kite session than a proper surf. The consistent cross-shore wind provides ideal power for a kite, even if the wave quality is lousy for a surfboard.

For the first week, basically from September 2nd right through to the 8th, the surf is poor. Then from the 9th to the 12th, you have those small, clean windows I mentioned. After the 12th, the surf dips again but remains poor on the 13th and 14th. The last glimmer is that 16th/17th period.

To sum it up: keep your expectations on the floor. This isn't a time for a surfari. If you're a dedicated local, you'll get a few grovel sessions on that 10th or 16th, but don't plan a trip around it.

Rusty.

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