El Sardinero - Primera Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, amigos, Rusty here. Let’s talk straight about the next two weeks. The water’s about 71°F, which is roughly a degree and a half warmer than normal for this time of year—nothing weird, just comfortable. The surf itself is a story of two small windows surrounded by a whole lot of flat and messy.

We kick off Tuesday morning (Sept 8) at El Sardinero – Primera. It’s small—about 3 feet from the NW with an 11-second interval—but we’ve got a light cross-off breeze and glassy conditions. The energy is weak at 141, so it’s just a fun, small-wave session for getting the arms moving. It’s a sheltered spot and fairly consistent, and the swell direction is N, which is exactly what this break likes. A good way to start.

The next few days are nothing to write home about. Wednesday (Sept 9) tries to push some 4-foot waves our way, but the wind turns cross-shore and the period drops, creating a jumbled mess. Thursday (Sept 10) is onshore and poor. By Friday and Saturday (Sept 11-12), the swell just dies—down to 2 feet with energy in the 40s and 70s. The ocean will be flat and clean in the mornings, but there’s nothing to ride. A dead stretch.

Then, on Sunday (Sept 13), the ocean wakes up. We get a solid pulse: 5-foot waves from the NNW with a 13-second period—a true groundswell. The combined energy is strong at 749. The morning looks the cleanest, but the wind picks up and goes cross-on in the afternoon, chopping it up. At this size, it’s a bit much for beginners, and the long period might make it break a little straight. Still, for the intermediate crowd, it could be worth a paddle. The model says it’s marginal, which usually means tide-dependent. Be smart.

That pulse fades quickly. Monday (Sept 14) and Tuesday (Sept 15) see it drop back to 4 feet then 3 feet, with onshore winds ruining the surface. We’re right back to weak, mushy stuff with energy in the low hundreds. Excruciating.

Now, for the one you’ve been waiting for: Saturday, September 19th. This is the standout of the entire period. The morning is modest, but the afternoon fires up—waves build to 4 feet from the NNW with a 12-second period, the wind turns light cross-off, and the surface is clean. The energy is moderate at 390, but the quality is off the charts. This matches the optimal swell direction for El Sardinero – Primera perfectly. The break is fairly consistent, but crowds are often here, so get in the water early. This is the session to plan for.

After that, it’s a slow grind to the end. Sunday (Sept 20) has some small, clean waves in the morning, but it doesn’t last. The final week is mostly onshore wind, tiny 2-3 foot waves, and weak energy. A couple of days at the very end (Sept 23) show a long-period NW groundswell on the charts, but the wind is up and the size is still small. It’s a distant hope, not a plan.

So, there you have it. Tuesday morning (Sept 8) for a quick, clean fix, and Saturday afternoon (Sept 19) as the clear winner. The rest is a test of patience. It won’t stay flat forever—it never does. Keep the wax on.

Rusty.

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