Ritoque Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, let’s get into it. The next 16 days here at Ritoque have a bit of a split personality. We’ve got some real solid windows of clean, powerful surf, but also some stretches where the wind turns it into a mess. The overall energy is moderate to strong, and the water temp is about average for this time of year, so no need to hunt for the thickest wetsuit just yet.

The standout period kicks off on Monday, August 3rd. The early morning is where it’s at. We’re looking at a solid 8ft swell from the WSW, with a period of 12 seconds. That’s a nice bit of groundswell. The wind is glassy, dead calm, 3 mph out of the SSW. The break is exposed, so it’s going to be clean, powerful, and offering some great, shaped-up waves. The combined energy is a solid 1534, which is moderate but still packing a punch. This is a proper session for experienced surfers. The afternoon on Monday gets a bit cross, so the morning is the window.

Tuesday, August 4th is a day to sleep in or go for a walk. The wind picks up and gets cross-onshore, bumping things up. The swell drops to 6ft but the quality is gone.

Wednesday, August 5th is a classic. Both morning and afternoon are absolute gems. The swell is 7ft to 7ft from the WSW, and the period jumps up to 16 seconds in the afternoon. That’s a very long period groundswell, which means heaps of energy and long, walling waves. The combined energy in the afternoon is a ripping 2447. Best of all, the wind is glassy, 3 mph out of the WSW. The surf will be clean, the lines will be long, and the paddling out will be easy between sets. This is the best day on offer, no question.

Thursday, August 6th morning is still a good one. The swell is 6ft with a 13-second period, and the wind goes light cross-offshore from the SSE. It’s clean, and the energy is still moderate (1259). The afternoon gets a bit messy with a stronger cross-shore wind.

Friday, August 7th and Saturday, August 8th are a mixed bag. Friday is a write-off with poor conditions. Saturday morning is a surprise, with a clean 6ft swell and a 10-second period, light cross-off wind. It’s a good session. The afternoon on Saturday is a no-go with 18 mph winds.

Sunday, August 9th is a big day. The swell is pumping at 10ft from the SW with a 13-second period. The combined energy is massive at 3676 in the morning. But here’s the thing – that’s too big for this break. The wind is cross, not helping. This is strictly for experts only, and even then, it’s going to be a battle. The setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing.

Monday, August 10th is still big at 8ft, but the wind is onshore and messy, so it’s not a goer.

Tuesday, August 11th is another gorgeous window. The swell drops to 6ft with a 10-second period, and the wind is glassy from the WSW. The morning is clean and excellent. The afternoon is a bit smaller at 5ft but still glassy. A solid day for a paddle.

From Wednesday, August 12th onward, the swell drops off significantly. We get a few days of 4ft to 5ft surf, but the wind is mostly cross or cross-onshore, keeping the quality poor. The energy drops to the 500-900 range, which is weak. There’s a long gap where the consistent, clean surf is just not there.

Sunday, August 16th shows a bit of a pulse again, with 6ft swell from the SW and a long 16-second period, but the wind is light cross-onshore, so it’s not clean. The energy is moderate (1803), but the wind is the spoiler.

Monday, August 17th and Tuesday, August 18th are mostly poor with cross-onshore winds. The energy is weak.

So, to wrap it up: your absolute best bets are the morning of Monday, August 3rd, and the entire day of Wednesday, August 5th. Wednesday is the standout. The rest of the window is a game of patience, waiting for the wind to behave.

Rusty.

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