Ritoque Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here again. Let’s break it down in feet and miles.

We’re looking at Ritoque for the next 16 days, and honestly, it’s a bit of a mixed bag. The opening window is gonna be a tough one. The surf is there, but it’s not giving us much to work with. The first real chance to get wet is Saturday afternoon, the 5th of September. The swell is a solid 4 ft from the SW, with a long period of 18 seconds, so there’s plenty of energy in the water (combined energy of 1453). But the wind is a cross-on 12 mph, and that’s going to chop things up. The water is a touch warmer than normal at 58°, so that’s a small win. The waves will be marginal at best, so don’t expect any magic.

Sunday morning, the 6th, looks a bit better. The wind drops to 6 mph and is onshore, but the swell is a bit bigger at 5 ft, still from the SW with a period of 15 seconds. The energy is still high (1371). It’s still marginal, but the lighter wind might make it a bit more doable. The afternoon is similar, but the swell drops a touch.

The rest of the first week into the second week is a real struggle. From Monday the 7th through to Thursday the 10th, we’ve got a lot of cross-on winds and fairly weak, inconsistent swell. The energy levels drop off a cliff, down to 385 by Thursday morning. The waves are just not clean. It’s a lot of choppy, wind-blown stuff. Not worth rushing out for.

The standout, if you can call it that, is Saturday the 12th of September. The swell jumps to 8 ft from the SW, but the period is a short 7 seconds, and the wind is a fresh 19 mph cross-on. The energy is moderate (601), but it’s going to be lumpy and messy. This is strictly for experts only, and even then, it’s going to be a battle. The same goes for the afternoon of the 15th of September, where we see 7 ft from the SW with an 8-second period, cross-on at 9 mph. More energy (1000), but still messy.

The second week does offer a glimmer on Sunday the 20th of September. The morning shows 7 ft from the SW with a 9-second period, and the wind is onshore at 6 mph. That’s the most promising window we’ve seen in a while. The wind is light, so the waves might have some shape, but it’s still a gamble. The crowds are a possibility here, so don’t expect to have it to yourself.

For the best of the bunch, I’d steer you towards Sunday morning, the 20th of September. The swell is solid at 7 ft, the direction is SW, and the wind is light onshore. It’s not perfect, but it’s the cleanest option in the whole forecast. The rest of the time, it’s either too windy, too small, or too messy. If you’re a beginner, stay away from the bigger days like the 12th and 15th. The 8 ft and 8 ft days are for the experienced crew only.

So, overall, it’s a tough run. There are a lot of gaps where the surf is just not worth the paddle. Keep your eyes on the 20th, and hope the forecasts shift for the better.

Rusty.

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