Tabinha Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s get into it. Honestly, looking at this 16-day stretch, it’s pretty grim. There’s not a single stand-out session on offer. The whole period is plagued by either cross-shore or cross-onshore winds, mostly moderate breezes, which are ruining any chance of clean, shaped waves. The swell is a mix of short-period windswell from the E and ENE, mostly under 5 feet, which is borderline at best. For the first week, the energy is a washout, with combined energy values stuck in the low 100s or below 100 on the weakest days – you’re looking at very weak wave energy.

We kick off on Wednesday the 2nd of September with a 3ft windswell from the East at 5 seconds. Water temp is about average for the time of year at 81°, and nothing special. The cross-onshore wind from the East at 16 mph is making it choppy. That poor surf condition label sticks for days. Thursday the 3rd through Monday the 7th doesn’t get any better: still 4ft to 4ft of short-period ENE/E swell, still moderate cross-shore winds at 12-16 mph, creating a messy cross-chop.

There’s a slight flicker of hope around Thursday the 10th and Friday the 11th of September. The swell builds a little, hitting 4ft from the East on Thursday morning with clean conditions thanks to a cross-offshore southeasterly. Combined wave energy climbs to 151 – that’s moderate energy, a step up. Come Friday morning, the period stretches to 7 seconds and energy hits 196. But don’t get too excited; the wind stays cross-shore for most of these afternoons, and the quality is still rated as poor.

By Saturday the 12th, the swell peaks at 5ft from the East, with a period of 7 seconds and combined energy of 292 (moderate energy). That’s the biggest swell of the whole outlook, but with 16 mph cross-shore winds, it’s going to be a choppy mess, not even worth it for beginners (it’s getting into that 5ft+ range, and over 8ft would be expert-only). By Sunday the 13th, the morning cleans up again with a cross-offshore SE wind, but the swell drops to 5ft.

From Monday the 14th through the end of the outlook on Thursday the 17th, it’s more of the same: 4ft to 5ft short-period windswell, with fresh to moderate cross and cross-onshore breezes. The weather is mostly clear or cloudy, but the wind is the killer. There isn’t a single window of truly clean, well-shaped surf with an offshore wind and decent period.

For the break itself, Tabinha is an intermediate spot that is consistent, but the swell is mostly coming from the E and ENE while the guidance says it does best with a NE swell. The optimum direction is not matching what we’re getting. Crowds are possible here, but the conditions are so poor, I doubt many will be out. This stretch is a write-off for paddle surfing. Honestly, with the constant moderate breeze and messy conditions, a kite surfer might find this setup more interesting than a surfer.

It’s a long blank run of poor surf. It won’t stay poor forever; forecasts can change, but right now, I’d leave the boards in the car.

Rusty.

Read more