Ribanceira Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. Look, I’ll be straight with you – this 16-day window for Ribanceira is a real mixed bag, and we’ve got a long wait ahead. The first week and a half is pretty much a write-off, with nothing worth paddling out for until the final weekend. We’re looking at the best surf arriving on Saturday the 25th of July, with a solid pulse of S swell.

For the first week, from Wednesday the 15th right through to Friday the 24th, it’s pretty grim. We’ve got onshore winds from the N and NNE, and the swell is small, weak, and messy. The wave energy is pathetic, sitting between 9 and 391 (weak to moderate at best), with heights barely scraping 0.6ft to 5ft. The wind is cross-on or onshore, keeping everything choppy and unrideable. The water temp is a frigid 60°, which is a whopping 6° colder than normal – that’s very unusual for this time of year, so you’ll need a thick wetsuit.

There’s a brief glimmer on Friday the 24th morning, with a 4ft SSE swell, but it’s still only a 1/10 – surfable but very ordinary, and the wind is offshore from the SW, which is clean at least. The energy is moderate at 330, but it’s not enough to get excited about.

Then, the goods finally arrive on Saturday the 25th of July. This is the standout. The morning starts with a 5ft S swell at an 11-second period, and the wind is a gentle cross-offshore from the S, keeping things clean. The wave energy is strong at 698. By the afternoon, it kicks up to a 7ft S swell, with the same clean wind, and the energy jumps to a very strong 1716. This is the best on offer, and it’s right in the intermediate sweet spot – not too big to be sketchy, but with enough grunt for a good session. The 11-second period means longer gaps between sets, making paddling out easier.

Sunday the 26th still has some decent leftover swell – 5ft S at 11 seconds in the morning, with glassy conditions from an E wind, so it’s clean. The energy is still strong at 603. The afternoon is a bit of a letdown, with the wind swinging onshore from the NNE, making it marginal.

After that, from Monday the 27th right through to the end of the window on Thursday the 30th, it’s back to poor conditions. The swell hangs around 3ft to 5ft from the S, but the wind is back to a strong N to NNE direction, cross-on or onshore, and choppy. The energy is moderate, but the wind ruins it.

So, to sum it up: the first 10 days are a bust. The real action is Saturday the 25th of July, with that 7ft S swell and clean winds. Sunday morning the 26th is also a solid option if you miss Saturday. The rest is a waiting game. Crowds at Ribanceira are “sometimes” a factor, so keep an eye out.

Keep an eye on the charts, things can change.

Rusty.

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