Praia das Macas Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the cards for Praia das Macas.

Truth is, mate, it’s a pretty grim stretch ahead. We’re looking at a solid 16-day run with absolutely nothing to get excited about. The first recommendation doesn’t even pop up until the 11th of August, and even then, it’s only a marginal call. That’s a long, dry gap with no real surf on offer.

The water’s sitting at 69°F, which is about average for this time of year, so no surprises there.

From Monday the 27th of July right through to Sunday the 10th of August, it’s all poor surf conditions. The wind is stuck in a cross-onshore pattern, mostly from the NNW or N, with speeds from 9 mph up to 25 mph. The swell is all over the shop, but it’s messy. Heights bounce from 2 ft to 8 ft, but the wind just ruins it. The combined energy is weak to moderate at best, with values like 179 and 330, but it doesn’t matter because the surface is choppy and lumpy. On the 7th of August, you get a 5 ft swell with 25 mph winds – that’s kite-surfing territory, not paddle surfing. The 8th and 9th of August see swell heights hitting 7 ft to 8 ft, but again, strong cross-onshore winds make it a washing machine. Not worth paddling out.

Finally, on Tuesday the 11th of August, we get a glimmer. The morning shows a 8 ft swell from the NNW with a period of 8 seconds, and the wind swings light and cross-shore from the NNE at 6 mph. The combined energy jumps to 1014, which is strong. The wave comment says “marginal surf forecast or questionable tide conditions”, and the score is a 3 out of 10. It’s not great, but for a break that’s been shut down for two weeks, it’s the only window. The swell is over 8 ft though, so this is strictly for experienced surfers only. The wind is light, which is a positive, and the cross-shore direction will keep it somewhat clean. Crowds are listed as “sometimes”, so you might get a few others thinking the same. The optimum swell direction for Praia das Macas is NW, and this swell is NNW, so it’s close but not perfect. The period is 8 seconds, so it’s a short-period wind swell, which won’t have the best shape. It’s a beginner-friendly break normally, but at this size, it’s not for learners.

So, the standout, if you can call it that, is the morning of the 11th of August. Get there early, hope for clean conditions, and don’t expect much. The rest of the fortnight is a write-off.

Rusty.

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