Rancho Santini Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right then, let’s have a look at what’s on offer for the next couple of weeks.

Honestly, it’s a bit of a slow start. We’re looking at a stretch of days where the surf is pretty marginal and the conditions are fighting against us. For the first few days, from Sunday the 23rd through to the middle of the week, the swell is small, around 2ft to 3ft, and the wind is either cross-onshore or straight onshore, making for a choppy, bumpy surface. The water temp is sitting at 68°, which is pretty much normal for this time of year, so no surprises there. The combined wave energy is weak, sitting in the 300-400 range, and it’s just not doing much. You’d be fighting a losing battle out there.

Now, things start to get a little more interesting towards the end of the week. On Wednesday the 26th, we see the swell start to pick up a bit, with 4ft to 5ft coming from the south, and the wind goes light cross-shore. That’s a step in the right direction, but the energy is still moderate (787-849) and the surf is still only rated as marginal. It’s a session for the keen, not for the glory.

The real standout, the one that’s got my attention, is shaping up for the following weekend. The morning of Saturday the 5th of September looks like the pick of the forecast. We’ve got a solid 4ft south-southwest swell running with a long period of 16 seconds, which is proper groundswell. The combined energy is strong at 1468, and the wind is light cross-onshore from the west-southwest, keeping it reasonably clean. This is the kind of day you’d circle on the calendar. Rancho Santini is a consistent spot, so you’ll get waves, but be aware that it can get crowded sometimes, so get down early.

The Sunday the 6th and Monday the 7th of September see the swell building even further, hitting 7ft from the south-southwest. That’s getting into the territory where it’s more for the experienced crew. The energy is very strong (over 1600) and the winds are onshore, which will make it bumpy. For a beginner, those 7ft days are going to be a handful, but for the experts, there’ll be some power to play with, albeit with a bit of chop on top.

So, to sum it up: the first week is a write-off for quality waves. The weekend of the 5th is your best bet, with Saturday morning being the standout session. The following Monday and Tuesday hold some size, but it’s for the experts only.

Rusty.

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