Ribanceira Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on offer for the next couple of weeks. It’s a mixed bag, but there’s a little window of hope if you’re patient.

The first real shot of decent surf kicks off on the morning of Saturday, the 25th of July. Before that, we’ve got a few days of small, ordinary conditions to work through.

For the first few days, from Wednesday afternoon the 22nd through to Friday the 24th, it’s pretty weak. Expect small-wave action, with the swell around 2ft to 6ft, mostly from the South. The wind is variable, but it’s often a cross-off or clean offshore, but the waves are just too weak and gutless to get excited about. The combined energy is low, ranging from 34 to 378, so it’s just not doing much.

Now, the highlight of the whole forecast. Saturday morning, the 25th of July. That’s the one. Ribanceira is looking like a proper little gem. We’re getting a 6ft swell from the Southeast, with a period of 9 seconds. That’s a solid, workable groundswell. The wind is glassy – totally calm – which is a huge plus. This will be clean, lined-up, and fun. The combined energy hits 469, which is a solid moderate punch. It’s going to be good for an intermediate surfer, nothing too scary, but plenty of push. The water temp is around 66°F, which is pretty normal for this time of year, so no surprises there.

Saturday afternoon the swell drops a touch to 5ft, and the wind swings to a cross-off from the South. Still clean, still surfable, but the morning is the absolute pick.

Sunday the 26th of July takes a turn for the worse. The swell drops to 3ft, and the wind swings cross-on from the North, making for messy, choppy conditions. The swell period is a more drawn-out 12 seconds, which is a long period groundswell, but it’s just too small and the wind is bad. This is a write-off.

From Monday the 27th of July right through to the end of the forecast window on Thursday the 6th of August, it’s mostly a bust. We get pulses of swell, but it’s almost always combined with onshore or cross-onshore winds, making for poor, bumpy conditions. The waves are often small, and the wind is blowing from the North or Northeast, which is just not good for Ribanceira. There are a few moments of offshore wind on the 29th and 30th of July, but the swell is tiny (2ft to 2ft). The combined energy is low, often under 100. It’s a frustrating stretch.

So, the takeaway? Saturday morning, the 25th of July, is your best bet. Get on it. After that, it’s a waiting game with a lot of messy, uninviting surf. If you’re a beginner, the bigger days (over 5ft) might be a bit much for you, but Saturday morning is perfect for an intermediate. The rest of the week is better for a day off.

Rusty.

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