Prainha do Farol Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, surfers, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s on the menu for the next couple of weeks. I’m looking at a stretch that’s got some serious potential, but it’s going to take a bit of patience and picking your moments. We’re not talking about a straight-out flat spell, but there’s a lot of junky, wind-blown stuff to wade through before we get to the good part.

The start of this period is pretty grim. From Tuesday the 18th through Thursday the 20th, we’ve got almost nothing to work with. The swell is tiny, mostly around 0.7ft to 3ft, and the wind is all over the place. It’s cross and cross-onshore, making for bumpy, uninviting conditions. The wave energy is weak, barely registering at 7 to 131. Honestly, it’s not worth getting wet for anything more than a float.

There’s a slight pulse of energy on Friday the 21st, but it’s still messy. The swell jumps to 7ft in the afternoon, but it’s wind-blown and lumpy. The energy is moderate at 549, but the quality just isn't there. The weekend isn’t much better – Saturday the 22nd has a cross-onshore breeze chopping up a 8ft swell, and Sunday the 23rd is similar, with the wind turning it into a crumbly mess, even if the energy climbs a bit to 828.

Now, here’s where things start to get interesting, but it’s a double-edged sword. On Monday the 24th, we’ve got a proper, juicy swell filling in. We’re looking at a 10ft swell from the S with a period of 13-14 seconds. The energy is strong, hitting 3294 in the afternoon. The wind is light and favorable in the morning, and it’s clean. This is the biggest, most powerful swell of the window. But, and it’s a big but, this is way too big for Prainha do Farol. This is a beginner-friendly spot, and anything over 8ft is expert-only. This one is going to close out and be dangerous, even for the experienced crew. It’s a shame because the conditions would be perfect otherwise. The wind is light and favorable, but that size just takes it off the table for most of us.

The days after that are a mixed bag of leftovers. Tuesday the 25th has a 7ft S swell with a 13-second period, but a fresh NE cross-shore breeze in the afternoon ruins it. The energy is still strong at 1476 though. Then, out of nowhere, Wednesday the 26th shapes up to be one of the real highlights. Swell drops to a more manageable 4ft, but the period stretches out to a very long 16 seconds. That’s pure groundswell. And the wind is light and offshore, making conditions glassy and clean. The energy is a solid 1194. This is the kind of day that makes it all worth it. For a left-hander like this, that long period will line it up nicely. Definitely the pick of the bunch for experienced surfers.

Thursday the 27th also shows promise. We’ve got a 5ft SSE swell with a 13-second period, and again, light offshore winds in the morning. It looks clean and very good, with an energy of 673. Another solid option, but the Wednesday swell is the one to circle on the calendar.

After that, things start to fade. Friday the 28th has some clean waves but not much size, dropping to 2ft with energy down to 138. The weekend is mostly small, weak, and onshore, with showers moving in. The first week of September looks like it’ll bring a new pulse of swell, but the wind is coming from the wrong direction – onshore and choppy. There’s a 8ft swell on Tuesday the 1st, but it’s being thrashed by a cross-onshore breeze. It’s going to be a messy, blown-out affair. The period drops to 8 seconds, so it lacks the power we saw before.

So, in the end, the standout is Wednesday the 26th. That long-period groundswell with offshore winds will be firing, and Thursday the 27th is a solid backup. Everything else is either too small, too messy, or way too big for this break. The water temp on the 18th is 66°F, which is about average for the time of year, so no big surprises there. Keep your eyes on that Wednesday.

Alright, that’s the picture from where I’m standing. Until next time, this is Rusty, signing off.

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