Ritoque Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Righto, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what's brewing for Ritoque.

We're looking at a pretty patchy 16-day window, to be honest. The first week is a bit of a mixed bag with some decent swell but the wind gods aren't always playing ball. The real standout window is shaping up for the weekend of the 16th, where conditions look like they could come together nicely.

The water at Ritoque is sitting at 57°, which is about average for this time of year, so no shock to the system there.

The first real chance to get wet is Friday afternoon, the 14th. The swell is building to 5 ft from the WNW, with a moderate 614 wave energy. The wind is a light cross-shore, so it'll be a bit ripply but surfable. Not the best, but it's a start.

Saturday morning, the 15th, is a write-off – light rain and a cross-shore breeze on a 6 ft W swell. The afternoon, though, is where it gets interesting. The wind swings to the west and goes glassy, making that 5 ft W swell (802 wave energy, 10-second period) look *very* inviting. This is a top pick for the weekend.

Sunday morning, the 16th, is the real gem. The wind drops to nothing, leaving it glassy. The swell is 3 ft from the SW with a long 14-second period, giving it 513 energy. That's clean, lined-up, and perfect for a longboard or a fun mid-length. The afternoon gets a bit of a southerly cross-shore, so get out early.

The start of the next week, Monday and Tuesday (17th & 18th), is a bit of a step down. The wind messes things up, and the swell gets a bit mixed. Tuesday morning has a 5 ft SW swell with 991 energy, but a cross-on wind will make it choppy.

Wednesday, the 19th, is worth a mention. The morning has a solid 5 ft SW swell, but the energy is pumping at 1482 – that's a strong wave. The wind is a light cross-on, so it's not perfect, but there's plenty of power. The afternoon sees a 6 ft WSW swell with 1365 energy, again with a cross-on wind. This one's for the experienced crew.

From Thursday the 20th through the next week, the consistency drops off. There are a few windows, but the wind is often onshore or strong. Friday morning, the 21st, is a write-off, but the afternoon is a wildcard. We get a 8 ft SW swell with 1317 energy, but the wind is a moderate cross-shore, making it lumpy. That's only for the fit and fearless.

The rest of the second week is a bit of a slog. There's a moment on Monday afternoon, the 24th, where the wind goes glassy and the 4 ft SW swell (422 energy) looks clean but small.

Tuesday afternoon, the 25th, the swell jumps to 8 ft from the WNW with 1459 energy, but the wind is cross-on, so it's a messy, powerful beast. Only for experts.

And that's about it. We get a few small, clean days right at the end, on the 28th, with 2 ft SW swells and glassy conditions – perfect for a sunset session on a log, but nothing to write home about.

So, for the best surf, point your car at Ritoque for the Saturday afternoon (15th) and Sunday morning (16th). That's your window.

Rusty.

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