Ritoque Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what's been brewing up for Ritoque over the next couple of weeks. It's a bit of a mixed bag, but there are a couple of sessions that have me feeling pretty good.

We’re starting off on Tuesday the 4th of August, and honestly, it’s a bit of a slow start. The surf is there, but the conditions are just okay. You’ve got a 7ft WSW swell with a solid 12-second period, but a cross-shore wind is putting a bit of a chop on it. The combined energy is moderate (1303). The water temp is about average for this time of year, so nothing exciting there.

Wednesday the 5th is a bit of a quiet standout. Early morning, we’ve got a nice offshore wind coming from the west at only 3 mph, which will keep things super clean. The swell is still a solid 7ft from the WSW with a 12-second period, and the energy is ramping up a little (1587). The afternoon gets a cross-on wind, but it’s still light. This is a decent window for a paddle if you're after a clean wave.

Thursday the 6th starts with a decent 8ft SW swell, but the period drops to 10 seconds and the wind gets cross-shore. By the afternoon, a 16 mph cross-on wind messes it up completely. Skip that.

Friday the 7th and Saturday the 8th are a real story of two different worlds. Friday is small and weak – a 6ft SW swell with a short 8-second period and messy wind. Don't bother. But Saturday the 8th? That’s the big one. We’re looking at a massive 10ft SW groundswell with a long 14-second period. The combined energy is strong (2874). The morning has a light cross-shore breeze, making for clean conditions. However, this is a word of caution: at 10ft, this is expert territory only. It’s going to be big, powerful, and pushy. If you’re not on your game, stay on the beach. The sea is going to be heaving. The afternoon has a stronger cross-shore wind that will make it lumpy, so the early session is the call.

Sunday the 9th sees the swell still solid at 8ft to 10ft, with a very long 16-second period in the afternoon. The energy is very strong (3876). But the winds are going to be a problem, turning cross-onshore and choppy. It’s big, but ugly.

The next week, from Monday the 11th onwards, the surf settles down but stays inconsistent. We get a few smaller pulses, like on the 15th of August with a 7ft WSW swell and a 13-second period, but the wind is always a cross-onshore. It’s rideable but not special. The 17th of August has another shot of energy (2472) with a very long 18-second period from the SW, but again the wind isn't perfect. It's a long-range promise that needs a good wind day to line up.

So, here’s the takeaway. The true standout is Saturday, August 8th, early morning. That’s the one. The other solid-looking days are either too windy or just marginal. For the rest, it’s a waiting game. We’ve got a long run from the 9th to the 14th with nothing great to recommend, so don't get your hopes up for that middle stretch.

Stay safe and pick your moments.

Rusty.

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