El Sardinero - Primera Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s get into it. The next couple of weeks look pretty quiet for the most part, so strap in. There’s a bit of a wait at the start, then a few small windows where things might line up, but no giant swell on the horizon. It’s more about picking the right time and the right bank.

First off, we have to wait through Thursday the 27th and Friday the 28th. There’s just not enough push, and the wind’s all over the place. It’s not worth getting wet for. The energy readings are weak, under 200 (e.g., 197), and that tells you all you need to know.

The first real chance comes on Saturday morning, the 29th. El Sardinero - Primera will see a small but surfable pulse. We’re talking about a 1.6m (about 5 ft) NW swell with a 9-second period. The morning glass is the key here, with almost no wind from the ESE at 5 km/h (about 3 mph), it should be clean. It’s not going to be epic, but it’s the best of a very ordinary bunch. The energy reading jumps up to 396, which is a bit more interesting, but we’re still in moderate territory.

The next morning, Sunday the 30th, has a slightly smaller 1.4m (about 5 ft) swell, but again, glassy conditions early (WNW at 5 km/h or 3 mph) will keep it tidy. The period stretches to 10 seconds, giving it a bit more shape. The energy is moderate at 353. It’s the same story – surfable, but you won’t be writing home about it.

Monday morning the 31st is the same sort of deal, clean with a 1.4m (5 ft) NW swell and 10-second period, but the energy is higher at 375. Still, the afternoon turns onshore, so it’s a morning mission if you’re keen.

Now, Tuesday the 1st of September is a sneaky one. The swell drops to 1.1m (about 4 ft), but we pick up a cross-offshore wind from the W and WNW, which should hold the waves open and keep them clean. It’s not big, but it might be the most user-friendly day of this whole run so far. Light winds too.

Then we hit a flat spell. Wednesday and Thursday look poor, with weak energy (58-73), and nothing much on offer. Friday the 4th has a little bit of swell (0.6m or 2 ft) but the onshore flow kills it.

Now, here’s where it gets more interesting for the experts. On Saturday the 5th of September, the swell jumps up. The morning has a 1.2m (4 ft) NW swell with an 11-second period and the energy is strong (508). The afternoon, though, it goes off – a 1.7m (6 ft) NNW swell with a 13-second period and a huge jump in energy to 953. That’s a solid groundswell, the kind with real power. But there’s a catch: the wind is onshore (ENE at 20 km/h or 12 mph), which is going to chop it up. This one is for the experienced crew only, and even then, it might be more about the current and the mess than the waves.

Sunday morning the 6th is a similar story – 1.6m (5 ft) of NNW swell at 11 seconds, still with that onshore wind. The energy is still high (639), but it’s not going to be clean. It’s a paddling workout with a side of chop.

After that, it fades again. We get a few days of smaller stuff (1.0 to 1.3m, or 3 to 4 ft) and a mix of winds. The morning of Tuesday the 8th of September has a clean window with a 1.0m (3 ft) NW swell and glassy conditions (NW at 5 km/h or 3 mph), but it’s small. Nothing exciting until around the 11th, which looks flat and onshore.

So, the long and short of it: the standout is Saturday the 29th of August morning for a clean, fun-sized wave. The more powerful one is the evening of Saturday the 5th of September, but that’s only for the experts and it’s going to be rough. This is a period where you’ll have to pick your moments, and those moments are early in the morning when the wind goes glassy. The water is 22° (about 72°F), which is a touch warmer than normal for late August, so the wetsuit can be a little thinner.

Crowds are likely at El Sardinero - Primera (often), so get out there early if you want a peak to yourself.

Take it easy,
Rusty.

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