Ritoque Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what Ritoque’s got cooking over the next couple of weeks.

Alright, straight up – we’re in for a bit of a flat spell to start. The surf’s pretty much a no-go until Saturday the 29th of August, with a gap of several days where there’s nothing worth paddling out for. The first real chance comes Saturday morning, and it’s a mixed bag.

Saturday morning the 29th, we’ve got a 6ft swell rolling in from the WSW, with a 12-second period. That’s a decent pulse, giving the place moderate wave energy (1071). The wind is cross-onshore from the SW at 3 mph, so it’s light, but not perfect. The water’s sitting at 57° – that’s about normal for this time of year, no real surprises there. It’s a bit marginal, but the standout session is going to be Sunday the 30th morning. The swell drops to 5ft from the WSW, still 11 seconds, but the wind is a light cross-onshore from the NNW at 6 mph. The energy is still moderate (683), and it’s the most consistent option across the whole forecast. The issue is the wind’s never truly offshore, so it’s always a little bumpy, but this is the pick of the bunch for a surfer who’s happy with a bit of texture.

As we head into the first week of September, the swell starts to fade. By Tuesday the 1st of September morning, we’re down to 4ft, and the wind picks up in the afternoon, making it choppy and poor. Wednesday the 2nd brings a weird one – a 2ft swell with a very long 18-second period from the SW. That’s a groundswell, but it’s tiny, and the light cross-onshore wind won’t help. The energy is weak (535). This is a spot that’s exposed to the SW swell, and with that long period, it might break a bit straight, making it pretty average.

The second week is a bit of a write-off, honestly. The swell hangs around 3ft to 5ft, but the wind is almost always cross-onshore or cross, and the conditions are often described as “poor” or “marginal.” There’s a glimmer on Sunday the 13th of September afternoon – the wind drops to glassy, and the swell is 5ft from the SW with a 10-second period. The energy is weak (597), but glassy conditions at Ritoque are rare, so if you’re keen, that’s the one to circle. It’s a long way out, so don’t bet the farm on it, but it’s promising.

Bottom line: Sunday the 30th morning is your best bet – cleanest of the bunch, with moderate energy. The glassy session on the 13th is a potential standout if it holds. For the rest, it’s a waiting game.

Rusty.

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