El Sardinero - Primera Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s cast an eye over the next couple of weeks at El Sardinero - Primera. Gotta be straight with you: it’s a tough run. This spot is a sheltered setup, and for most of the window, the swell and wind just aren’t playing ball. The water is hanging around 69°F with a normal anomaly, so that’s about what you’d expect for this time of year. We’ve got a long stretch of poor conditions ahead, but there is a glimmer or two if you’re patient.

Right now, Thursday the 10th kicks off with a 4ft swell from the NNW and a 10-second period, but it’s onshore and messy – not worth paddling out for. That sets the tone for the next several days. Friday the 11th has a tiny 2ft glassy window in the morning, but there’s hardly any energy (79), so it’s a flat spell. Saturday and Sunday the 12th and 13th are a write-off, with onshore winds and small, weak swell. A bit of a spike on Sunday the 13th afternoon shows 5ft from the NNW and a 12-second period, with moderate energy (559), but it’s blown out by a NE breeze. Same story into Monday and Tuesday the 14th and 15th – the swell is there, but cross-onshore winds ruin it.

A change comes on Wednesday the 16th: a 4ft NW swell with a 9-second period, and we get cross-offshore winds, keeping things clean. The energy is moderate (357). It’s not a classic, but it’s surfable and clean. Still, the quality is poor overall.

Now, here’s the one true standout. On the morning of Thursday the 17th of September, we’ve got a 5ft swell from the NW, period bumping up to 11 seconds, and the wind goes glassy – light SW at 3 mph. The combined energy is strong at 515, and the wave comment says expect good surf conditions. This is your best bet. The crowd situation says “often,” so expect a few locals out, but with that glassy surface and a solid groundswell, it’ll be worth the company. The 5ft is a fun size for intermediates, and the longer period means more push and shape.

After that, it dries up again. The 18th and 19th are small or onshore, with a brief clean moment on Saturday the 19th morning with 3ft from the NW and cross-offshore winds, but it’s only rated as very ordinary. Then we hit a gap where the swell tries to build – on Monday the 21st, we see 6ft from the NNW with a 13-second period and massive energy (1139), but it’s cross-onshore and choppy. That’s a big, messy wall, more for the kite crowd than surfers. Tuesday the 22nd is onshore, and then Wednesday the 23rd morning is a tease: 4ft from the NNW with a very long 16-second period, and glassy calm winds. The energy is high (756), and it says expect good surf conditions, but the swell is a bit small for that long period, and it’s a beach break, so those long lines might not connect well. Still, it’s clean. The afternoon on the 23rd gets blown out.

The last few days of the forecast, from the 24th to the 25th, are all cross-onshore, choppy, and just not worth it. So, if you’re waiting for a window, the 17th morning is your real shot. The 23rd morning is a long-range promise, but it’s less certain – keep an eye on it.

Rusty.

Read more