The Rock-Costa Azul Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. Looking at the next 16 days for The Rock-Costa Azul, a consistent reef break that’s advanced and often crowded. We’ve got a pretty drawn-out, slow-burn kind of forecast. Nothing much is happening for the first week and a half; lots of marginal or poor conditions, then the end of the window lights up with some serious energy, but you’ll need to be an experienced surfer to handle it.

For the first few days – Thursday the 20th right through to late August – it’s tough. Swell is small, mostly around 2.0 ft to 3.0 ft, and the wind is all over the place. Thursday morning has a light onshore breeze, and while Thursday afternoon cleans up a bit with a cross-offshore from the WSW, the wave comment is “marginal.” Not worth paddling out. Friday the 21st afternoon shows a bit more promise: clean surf with a 2.3 ft SSW swell and a light offshore from the WNW, but it’s just too small to get excited about. Saturday the 22nd and Sunday the 23rd are similar – small, clean windows but nothing that gets the heart rate up. The combined wave energy sits between 290 and 468, which is weak to moderate.

Around Monday the 24th afternoon, things start to nudge up. The swell is still only 2.3 ft from the SW, but the combined energy jumps to 646 (moderate) and the wave comment says “very good surf conditions.” The wind is a clean cross-offshore from the WSW, so if you’re desperate for a surf, that might be your best early gamble. Still, it’s small.

From Tuesday the 25th to Thursday the 27th, we’re in the doldrums again – mostly onshore winds, small swell, and poor to marginal conditions. The energy is moderate (428 to 710), but the wind just won’t cooperate. The bite-sized 2.0 ft to 3.0 ft SSW swell is not worth the drive.

Friday the 28th finally shows some size. The Saturday morning of the 29th is the standout. The swell hits 5.2 ft from the SSW with a 16-second period, combined wave energy at a meaty 1420 (strong). The wind is glassy – absolutely glassy – and the wave comment says “excellent surf conditions for experienced surfers.” That’s the call. The Rock (Costa Azul) will be taking that long-period SSW groundswell cleanly. It’s a reef break, so the long period (over 15 seconds) will mean longer lulls between sets, but the shape should be proper. This is the best on offer, hands down. Saturday afternoon stays clean and glassy with 4.6 ft SSW swell. Note that 5.2 ft is getting up there for beginners, but for experienced surfers, it’s prime.

Sunday the 30th and Monday the 31st fade back to small, marginal conditions – 3.3 ft to 4.0 ft, light winds but cross or onshore. Not worth it.

Then from Tuesday the 1st of September onwards, the wind switches bad. Strong onshore breezes (22 to 28 mph from the ESE and SE), and the swell starts building but it’s messy. By Wednesday the 3rd and Thursday the 4th of September, the swell is 6.6 ft to 7.2 ft from the S, with combined energy over 1600, but the wind is cross-onshore to onshore and the wave comments all say “poor” or “marginal.” This is kite-surfing territory, not paddle surfing. The setup at The Rock-Costa Azul is a reef, so strong onshore wind will just make it a washing machine. Avoid.

So the quick summary: ignore most of the first 10 days. The standout is Saturday the 29th of August, morning session. Clean, glassy, 5.2 ft SSW groundswell with good period. Be there early. After that, it goes to windblown junk.

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