Martinhal Surf Forecast and Surf Report

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

First off, I’ve gotta be straight with you: this is a tough run. The water is sitting at 67°F which is a good 4°F colder than what’s normal for this time of year, so it’s gonna feel nippy on the skin. The surf is small and pretty gutless for the vast majority of the forecast. The combined swell energy barely cracks three digits on a couple of occasions, but the wave quality is consistently marked as poor. There’s a long gap from the start of the period right through until the afternoon of Sunday the 16th of August where the surf just isn’t worth a paddle. The setup is a sheltered, inconsistent beginner spot, and with the wind mostly blowing offshore or cross-off, the conditions *look* clean, but the swell just isn’t there to back it up.

Now, there is one moment that stands out. On the afternoon of Sunday the 16th of August, a spike of energy shows up. The swell jumps to 6 ft from the NW with a short period of 6 seconds, and the combined energy hits 235. That’s the most punch we see by a long shot. The wind is offshore and fresh, so the surface will be clean. But here’s the catch – that short period and that size for a sheltered spot is going to be a bit of a bumpy, close-out mess. It’s the only thing that even gets close to interesting, but it’s not going to be pretty. For a beginner spot, 6 ft might be a bit much, and the quality is still listed as poor. For the rest of the run, the swell is tiny, with periods all over the shop, and the energy is mostly weak – values like 45, 46, and 15. It’s just flat.

Honestly, the whole 16-day window is a write-off. The swell is too small and inconsistent. With the wind being strong and offshore, this setup looks more like a kite-surfing session than a paddle-surfing one. That’s the reality of it. Don’t hold your breath; forecasts can change, but right now, it’s grim.

Rusty.

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