The Rock-Costa Azul Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get into it. We’ve got a solid run of swell headed our way, but the early part of the week is a bit of a mixed bag. The real standout is a couple of days when things get big and powerful, but you’ll need to be on your game.

The first real surfable option kicks off on Friday afternoon, the 24th of July. The Rock-Costa Azul (Costa Azul) is picking up a 4ft SW swell, but it’s coming with a risk of thunderstorms and a cross-offshore wind. The water is sitting at a very warm 86°F, which is a good 5°F warmer than usual for this time of year – that’s pretty unusual, so you’ll be in boardies for sure. The combo energy is strong (1321), but the conditions are only marginal.

Saturday morning, the 25th, sees a cleaner window with the swell bumping up to 4ft from the SSW, and the wind is light and cross – glassy enough. The energy is up (1406), but it’s still a bit touch and go. By Saturday afternoon, things get a bit more interesting. The swell hits 6ft from the SSW, with a cross-offshore breeze, and the energy jumps to 2189. The waves are clean, but the period is dropping to 19 seconds – still a solid groundswell, but it’s starting to shorten.

Sunday the 26th is a bit of a write-off with a 5ft SSW swell but a cross-shore wind that’s going to chop it up. Not worth the paddle.

Now, here’s where it gets real. Monday afternoon, the 27th of July, is the first true standout. The swell is 8ft from the SSE, but the period is a short 14 seconds. The energy is huge at 3538, and the wind is a clean cross-offshore. This is a big, powerful swell, but at 8ft, it’s getting into the “experts only” territory. The break is a reef, so it should handle the size, but the short period might make it a bit lumpy. Still, the clean wind and massive energy make this the best of the early run.

The absolute peak, however, hits Tuesday afternoon, the 28th of July. We’re talking a 10ft SSW swell with a 16-second period. The energy is off the charts at 6494. The wind is a moderate cross-shore, but the forecast is calling it “wind and tide favorable, but the swell is predicted to be too big for this break.” This is a massive, long-period groundswell – that 16-second period is going to have serious power. 10ft is really only for the experienced crew. The break is a reef, which is good, but the sheer size makes it a serious call. This is the best of the best, but it’s not for the faint-hearted. Wednesday the 29th keeps the 10ft swell coming, but the period drops to 15 seconds, and by the afternoon it’s a clean cross-offshore again. Another solid day for experts.

After that, the swell drops. Thursday morning, the 30th, has a 8ft SW swell with a 13-second period, and a light cross-offshore wind. The energy is still high (2634), and it’s clean. Friday the 31st is a good end to the week, with a 5ft to 6ft WSW swell, a 12-second period, and a clean offshore wind. The energy is around 1100, making it a much more manageable size for advanced surfers.

From Saturday the 1st of August onwards, the swell really fades. We’re looking at a long gap of weak, small surf. The energy drops below 600, and the swell heights are under 4ft. There’s a brief flicker on Monday the 3rd with a 3ft W swell and an 8-second period, but that’s very weak and short period. The rest of the second week is a write-off until the 8th of August, where we see a tiny 2ft SSE swell with a clean offshore wind – surfable but very ordinary.

So, the call is simple: Tuesday afternoon, the 28th of July, is the standout. That 10ft, 16-second SSW groundswell is the big one. Monday afternoon the 27th is a close second. After that, it’s a long wait for the next good one. The crowds are listed as “often” at The Rock, so expect company on those big days.

Rusty.

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