Rancho Santini Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, folks, Rusty here. Let’s break down Rancho Santini for the next couple of weeks. It’s a slow start, so don’t rush out.

The first few days are on the small side. From Thursday the 9th through early the next week, the swell is around 3 ft, coming from the SSW or SW, with a long period of 15 to 16 seconds. The wind is light cross-onshore or cross-shore, so it’s clean enough but nothing amazing. The combined energy is moderate, in the 400 to 700 range. Perfect for beginners, but not worth a special trip for anyone else. The water temp is about average for the time of year, no surprises.

Then we hit a rough patch from Saturday the 11th through Monday the 13th. Wind goes onshore, the swell gets smaller, and it’s just poor surf. A few days with nothing to write home about.

Tuesday the 14th and Wednesday the 15th have a little bump, but it’s still marginal. The 15th has a 2 ft SW groundswell in the morning with a very long 17-second period, but the wind is cross-onshore, so it’s not clean. The afternoon switches to a 4 ft WNW swell with a short 9-second period and onshore wind—messy.

Thursday the 16th and Friday the 17th are more of the same. Small, onshore, poor.

Now, the standout. It’s a ways out, so keep your fingers crossed, but around Saturday the 18th and Sunday the 19th, we get some real swell. Saturday morning brings 4 ft from the S with a 16-second period, and by Saturday afternoon it jumps to 6 ft with that same long period and the energy hitting 2409—that’s strong. Sunday morning holds 5 ft from the S, period 13 seconds, energy 1261. The wind is light cross-onshore, so not glassy but workable. That 6 ft is expert territory, but if you’ve got the skills, Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning are the best in the whole 16-day window. The swell direction from the south is good for the break, which likes it from the west. Expect crowds at Rancho Santini when it’s good.

After that, it fades. Monday the 20th drops back to 3 ft, and the rest of the week into Thursday the 24th is marginal, with a few small bumps. Friday the 24th morning shows a 6 ft SSW swell, but the wind is onshore, so it’s a maybe.

So, the first week is for the patient or the beginners. The real action is that Saturday and Sunday of the 18th and 19th. Circle those dates, but don’t book the plane ticket yet—the wind could change everything.

Rusty.

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