Ribanceira Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get into it for Ribanceira. We’ve got a bit of a slow start, but there’s a real standout window later on that’s got some serious potential.

The forecast period is a long one, 16 days, and it kicks off with a bit of a wait. The first few days are pretty ordinary. Monday the 27th morning has some clean, glassy waves at 2 feet from the south, but it's really weak. The combined energy is only 199, so you’re not getting much push. It’s surfable, but nothing to get excited about. That afternoon, the wind swings onshore and it turns messy.

Tuesday and Wednesday look poor too, with onshore or cross-onshore breezes messing up the 2 foot to 2 foot south swell. Thursday the 30th morning is a bit of a tease – clean, offshore wind and a small 3 foot SSE swell, but the period is a short 7 seconds, so it’s weak and won’t have much shape. The water temperature is about average for this time of year here at Ribanceira, so no shock on that front.

Then we hit a big gap. From Friday the 31st of July right through to Monday the 3rd of August, the surf drops right off. We’re talking tiny half-foot to 1 foot waves with strong onshore winds. It’s a proper desert. The combined energy numbers are pitiful, dropping as low as 10. Not worth even looking at the ocean.

Now, here’s where it gets interesting. Tuesday, August 4th, morning is the standout. This is the one to circle. The swell jumps up to 4 feet from the south, with a 12-second period, giving it some real groundswell energy (combined energy of 731). The wind is absolutely glass – dead calm, zero. That means perfect, clean conditions. This is a sandbar break, and with that south swell and glass, it could be absolutely firing. It’s a fairly consistent spot, but crowds are possible, so get in early.

The afternoon of the 4th, the wind shifts onshore and the swell jumps to 7 feet from the SSE. That’s a big step up, and with onshore wind, it’s going to be a messy, blown-out mess. Not for paddling.

Wednesday and Thursday the 5th and 6th are still big, with 6 to 7 foot south swells, but the wind is all over the place – onshore or cross-onshore. The energy is huge (over 800-900), so it’s powerful, but the quality just isn’t there. Thursday afternoon does look cleaner with a cross-off breeze, but the swell is still nearly 6 feet.

Then we get to Friday, August 7th. This is the other real standout. The morning has a 6 foot south swell (11 seconds) and a solid 12 mph offshore wind from the southwest. The combined energy is a massive 1177. That’s strong, long-period groundswell hitting a sandbar with offshore wind. The afternoon pushes it to 7 feet from the SSE with even stronger offshore wind. This is expert territory – over 8 feet is getting into big wave territory, but 7 feet with clean offshore wind is a proper session for the experienced crew. The period is 12 seconds, so it’s a solid groundswell.

After that, the surf drops back down. Saturday the 8th morning has a clean 4 foot SSE swell with glassy conditions, but the energy is way down at 298. It’s a fun little morning, but not a patch on the Friday. Then from Sunday the 9th onward, it’s back to tiny, wind-affected junk for the rest of the forecast.

So, the bottom line: the best on offer is Tuesday morning, August 4th for the clean, glassy 4 foot south swell, and Friday, August 7th for the bigger, more powerful 6 to 7 foot south groundswell with offshore wind. The 7th is for the experienced ones only. The rest of the window is a write-off or very ordinary.

Rusty out.

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