The Rock-Costa Azul Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what the next couple of weeks are serving up for The Rock-Costa Azul. It's a bit of a slow burner, but there's some real gold at the end of the tunnel if you're patient.

The first week is pretty average, with small, messy swells and only a few windows of clean surf. The real standout action is all in the second week, with a couple of days that are going to be worth circling on the calendar.

We kick off on Tuesday, July 14th, with a tiny 2ft SW swell, but it's paired with an onshore wind, so the conditions are poor. The water is a balmy 84° and a massive 5.4° warmer than normal for this time of year – that's a real anomaly. The energy is just moderate (477). It's a hard pass.

Wednesday the 15th sees a bump in size to 4.3ft from the SSE, but the period is a short 9 seconds, so it's a bit weak and lumpy. The afternoon sees a cleaner look with a cross-offshore breeze, but it's still nothing to write home about. Thursday morning the 16th is glassy but tiny at 1.6ft from the S. The afternoon picks up a little, with a 1.6ft SW groundswell (19 seconds) and a glassy texture, but it's just too small. The energy is still low (310).

Friday the 17th is a write-off in the morning with cross-on wind, but the afternoon brings a clean 4.3ft SSW swell (11 seconds) with a cross-off breeze. The energy jumps to moderate (641), and conditions are good - it's a solid, fun afternoon but not a standout.

Saturday the 18th brings a bigger push of 5.6ft to 5.9ft SW swell (13 seconds), but with cross-on and cross winds, it's a bit of a mess. The energy is strong (over 1300), but the conditions don't match the size. Sunday the 19th through Monday the 20th are just marginal, with a dropping SW swell and light onshore winds. Not worth the paddle.

Tuesday the 21st sees the swell build again to 5.2ft-5.6ft from the SSW, but it's cross-on and choppy. The energy is strong (over 1100), but it's not clean. Wednesday the 22nd morning is still a bit bumpy with 7.2ft SSW swell, but then the afternoon is the first real standout. The swell drops slightly to 6.9ft, the wind goes light cross-offshore, and the energy is very strong (1548). It's clean and has some punch. This is a session for experienced surfers only, as 6.9ft is pushing into expert territory, but it's the best we've seen so far.

Thursday the 23rd is a write-off due to a strong onshore ESE wind at 25 km/h, making it completely blown out. But then we hit the real jackpot. Friday the 24th is excellent. The morning has a clean 5.2ft SW swell (13 seconds) with a light cross-off breeze, and the energy is very strong (1097). The afternoon is even better – 4.6ft from the SW, but a solid 25 km/h offshore WNW wind makes it clean as a whistle. The energy is high (1224). This is a top-shelf day, but it's a big swell for the conditions, so it's for the experienced crew.

Then Saturday the 25th might just be the pick of the whole forecast. The morning is a playful 4.3ft WSW swell with a light cross-off, but the afternoon... oh boy. The afternoon brings a 3.9ft SW groundswell with a period of 19 seconds, very long-period energy, and a clean 15 km/h offshore wind. The combined energy is a massive 1776, showing the power in the water. For a reef break like The Rock, this long-period SW groundswell and offshore wind will set up some perfect, long lines. It's not too big, so it's accessible for strong intermediates, but the quality will be world-class. There will be long lulls, but the sets will be worth the wait. Expect crowds here often, so get out early.

The last few days of the outlook are a bit mixed. Sunday the 26th has some tropical storm risk but clean conditions in the afternoon. Monday the 27th is marginal but clean. Tuesday the 28th morning is a real treat for experienced surfers – a 6.2ft SE swell with a 12-second period and a clean cross-off breeze, and the energy is a huge 1776. That's a powerful, clean swell.

Finally, Wednesday the 29th is a monster. The swell is predicted to be 11.5ft from the S with a 14-second period in the morning, and 9.8ft in the afternoon. The combined energy is off the charts at 4618 and 4903. The wind is favourable, but this is simply too big for The Rock-Costa Azul. This is a "don't even think about it" size unless you're a pro charging a jet ski. It's a day for watching from the cliffs.

So, to wrap it up: The first week is a game of patience. The clear standouts are Friday the

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