Playa Rapadoira Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s take a look at what’s in store for the next couple of weeks.

Right off the bat, it’s gonna be a flat and frustrating start. There’s nothing good to report for the first few days. The first real chance of a wave doesn’t show up until the morning of Thursday, the 23rd of July, but even then it’s just a tiny 3ft swell from the NE with weak energy (107). It’s glassy, so you could get a surfable but very ordinary little wave. That little window is gone by the afternoon as the wind turns onshore.

We’ve got a long, dry gap from there. The next hint of a pulse is Sunday morning, the 26th of July, with a 2ft swell from the NNW, but with a very long period of 12 seconds. That’s groundswell, and the energy is moderate (149). Again, glassy conditions, but it’s a river mouth and a long period swell like that tends to run straight. Still, surfable but very ordinary.

The real waiting game is on. The first sign of something decent doesn’t come until the 29th of July. Wednesday morning, the 29th, we get a 4ft, 10-second swell from the NNW at Playa-Rapadoira. The wind is glassy, and the energy is strong (300). That’s a genuine “expect good surf conditions” call. That’s the first real standout. And the next morning, Thursday the 30th of July, is even better: 4ft from the NNW, 10-second period, glassy conditions, and the energy is pushing strong (390). Another “expect good surf conditions” moment. Crowds are a possibility here, so get in early.

But the main event, the one that’s got me proper excited, is Saturday morning, the 1st of August. That’s over a week away, so we’ve got to keep an eye on it, but the signs are promising. We’re looking at a 7ft swell from the NNW, a 10-second period, and glassy conditions. The energy is very strong (718). That’s the best on offer, and it’s an “expect very good surf conditions” call. The water temperature is running a touch warmer than normal at 68°F.

For the rest of the second week, Sunday the 2nd of August still has some decent size (6ft from the N, 9-second period, glassy) but then it drops off fast. By Monday the 3rd and Tuesday the 4th, it’s back to tiny, weak waves and poor conditions.

So, keep your powder dry. The first week is a write-off, but that last couple of days of July and the first day of August look like they’ll be worth the wait. The real standouts are the 30th of July morning and the 1st of August morning.

Rusty.

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