Prainha do Farol Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s headed our way to Prainha do Farol over the next couple of weeks.

Right off the bat, the first few days are a bit of a write-off. Monday afternoon is a no-go with a messy, cross-shore 15 mph wind chopping up a tiny 1ft south swell. You’d be wasting your time. It’s not until Tuesday morning, the 4th of August, that we get our first real sniff of something decent. The wind goes glassy, dead calm, and that south swell jumps to 4ft with a nice long 12-second period. The water is a touch warmer than normal at 68°, so it’s comfortable. The energy is moderate (417), and it’s going to be clean. That’s the pick of the early run, but it’s a small window.

The long period groundswell will be offering up proper lines, but at a beach break like Prainha do Farol, a 12-second period can make it a bit straight and tricky. Still, for a Tuesday morning, it’s worth a look if you’re keen.

We then hit a dry spell. Wednesday through Friday morning are all pretty ordinary. Small swell, iffy winds, or just plain poor conditions. The surf is small and weak, with energy dipping below 100 during parts of Thursday. Friday afternoon actually brings a bump in size to 6ft, but it’s a short-period 7-second windswell from the SSW with a strong onshore wind, just a choppy mess. Not for surfing.

Now, hold onto your board. The real standout is Saturday the 8th of August. The morning is still a bit messy with a cross-shore wind and a 7ft south swell, but the afternoon is absolute magic. The wind shifts to a light offshore, cleaning up a solid 6ft south swell with a 14-second period. The energy is massive (1371), and the “excellent” call is for the experienced crew. This is a proper groundswell, so the wave quality will be there, but at this size, it’s in the expert zone. The long period means long waits between sets, but the paddling will be easier. It’s a session for the confident surfer, and crowds are possible here, so get out early.

The good run continues into Tuesday the 11th of August. By Tuesday afternoon, the wind goes completely glassy, dead calm, with a 7ft south swell at 11 seconds. The wave energy is very strong (1004), and it’s another “excellent” call. That’s a solid pick for the experienced surfer, but the shorter period (11 seconds) compared to Saturday means the waves might be a touch more manageable and less straight. This is a serious contender for the best of the run.

The following week has a few more promising moments. The 14th of August, a Friday, sees a glassy morning with a 8ft south swell (11 seconds) and very strong energy (1317). That’s a big, clean swell, but again, it’s strictly for the experts. The crowd factor is there, so keep that in mind.

Later in the run, around the 17th and 18th, we see some size (8ft to 8ft) but the wind is either fresh or the swell period is short, making it a bit lumpy or onshore. Nothing that pulls ahead of the earlier standouts.

So to wrap it up, the two clear winners on the calendar are the Saturday afternoon, August 8th, and the Tuesday afternoon, August 11th. Both offer clean, punchy south swells in the 6ft to 7ft range with offshore or glassy wind. The Saturday has the longer period for more energy, the Tuesday has the glass. Both are for the experienced paddler. Don’t sleep on the Tuesday morning, August 4th, either, if you want a smaller, cleaner session.

Stay safe out there.

Rusty.

Read more