Ritoque Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s break down the surf ahead for Ritoque over the next couple of weeks.

Right off the bat, we’ve got a massive pulse of swell rolling in on Thursday the 27th. The swell is hitting 12ft from the WSW with a long 14-second period, and the combined energy is absolutely cranking at 5204 – that’s some serious grunt. But honestly, at this size, it’s going to be too big for this break. Unless you’re a seasoned charger looking for a real challenge, you’d be better off giving it a miss. The wind is light on Thursday morning, but the wave height is just too much.

That big swell eases back to 8ft on Friday the 28th, but conditions are still pretty marginal, with questionable tide and only fair-at-best wind. The score is low, and it’s not really worth getting excited about. The energy is still high at 2289, but the quality isn’t there.

Now, look to Saturday morning the 29th. That’s where we start to see something special. The swell drops to a much more manageable 6ft from the WSW, period is 12 seconds, and the wind goes glassy – offshore from the SW. The combined energy sits at 1071, which is moderate but solid. Conditions are described as excellent for experienced surfers, and I’d have to agree. That’s your best window in the first week. The water temp is about average for this time of year, so nothing crazy to worry about.

Sunday morning the 30th is also worth a paddle. Swell is 5ft, WSW, 11-second period, and again that glassy SSW wind. Wave energy is 586, more modest, but the clean conditions make it a joy. The afternoons on both Saturday and Sunday get choppy as the wind picks up cross-onshore, so make your move early.

From Monday the 31st through to about Wednesday the 2nd of September, the surf is small and the wind is messy. Swell hangs around 4ft to 4ft, mostly cross-onshore flow, and the energy drops off. Not much to write home about. There’s a brief spike in energy on Thursday the 3rd with 4ft from the WSW and 14-second period, but the wind is still cross-onshore and choppy.

Then we get another pulse around Friday the 4th of September. Swell bumps up to 8ft from the SW, 13-second period, and energy jumps to 2338. That’s a solid swell, but the wind is cross-onshore and choppy, so it’s a messy one. Might be more interesting for the kite crew than paddle surfers that afternoon.

The following week from the 5th through to the 11th is a mixed bag. Swell stays in the 4ft to 6ft range, mostly from the SW. The wind is often cross-onshore, so chop is a recurring theme. The standout in that second week is Thursday the 10th in the afternoon. Swell is small at 4ft from the SW, 12-second period, but the wind goes glassy. That’s a beautiful, clean window for a longboard or a funboard. Energy is 507, light but clean. After that, Friday the 11th morning is back to cross-onshore and marginal.

To sum it up: The best surf on offer is Saturday morning the 29th of August for the bigger, more powerful combo, and Sunday morning the 30th for a slightly smaller but still super clean session. If you’re willing to wait, that Thursday the 10th of September afternoon is a glassy little gem for the small-wave crew. Don’t bother with the first few days unless you’re after a survival session.

Rusty.

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