Ritoque Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a proper look at what’s coming our way for the next couple of weeks.

Right out of the gate, the surf is a bit of a mixed bag. We’ve got a solid run of swell, but the wind is going to be the main character for a while, making a lot of it a touch on the messy side. The real standout window, the one you want to circle on the calendar, kicks off on the morning of Monday the 31st of August. That morning, Ritoque is looking absolutely pristine. We’ve got a tidy 4ft of groundswell rolling in from the WSW at a long 12 seconds, and the wind goes glassy – dead calm. That’s going to produce some clean, lined-up waves with that long-period energy and power (combined energy of 556). The water temp is about average for this time of year, so a spring suit is your friend.

The rest of this first week is a bit of a write-off for quality. Swell stays in the 4ft to 5ft range, but cross-onshore winds keep the surface choppy. There’s a flicker on Wednesday the 2nd of September morning with another glassy spell and a 2ft, 18-second groundswell (combined energy of 524), but it’s a small clean window. That long 18-second period is more of a point break or reef swell, so Ritoque, being a beach setup, might see those waves wrapping a bit too straight and the sets will be spaced out. Still, for a clever surfer on the right board, that early glass could offer a few gems.

The second week gets a bit more interesting energy-wise, but the conditions stay a challenge. We see a big jump in combined energy starting Sunday the 6th of September (1609 in the afternoon), with 6ft swell and a light breeze. That’s some serious juice, but the wind is still cross-onshore, so it’s going to be a bumpy ride. The waves will have plenty of push, but expect some chop on the face.

Heading into the 12th and 13th of September, the swell stays solid in the 6ft to 7ft range. That 7ft on Monday the 14th of September morning is only for the experienced crew, as it’s pushing into expert territory. The winds pick up too, with a fresh breeze on the 13th creating lumpy conditions. There’s a chance it cleans up for that Monday morning the 14th with a gentle cross-shore wind, and with a combined energy of 1452, the ocean will be doing its thing.

So, to sum it up: the best bet by far is Monday the 31st of August morning for the clean, glassy lines. The rest of the run is mostly workable but not perfect, with a small potential window on Wednesday the 2nd of September morning. If you’re not fussy about a bit of chop, the bigger swells later in the second week have plenty of grunt, but your timing needs to be bang on.

Rusty.

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