The Rock-Costa Azul Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s get into it. This is Rusty, and I’ve got the scoop on what’s coming up for The Rock-Costa Azul. This is a consistent, advanced reef break that’s exposed to the swell, and it’s a spot that knows how to light up when the conditions line up. The water is sitting at a warm 86°, which is a solid 6° above the norm for this time of year – that’s seriously unusual, so you’ll be surfing in a bath.

We’ve got a bit of a slow start right now, but the real action kicks off Thursday afternoon, 23rd July. You’ll see a clean 3ft SW swell with a light cross-offshore breeze, and the water is clean. The combined energy is moderate at 403. It’s a good intro, but it’s not the standout.

The first real standout comes on Saturday morning, 25th July. This is where it gets good. We’ve got a 4ft SSW groundswell with a very long period of 20 seconds, and it’s glassy – dead flat wind, just a slight air. The combined energy is strong at 1349. For an advanced reef, this is going to be fast, clean, and powerful. Long period groundswells like this can be a bit straight at beach breaks, but on a reef like The Rock, it’s going to be lined up and firing. This is the best on offer for the first week.

Sunday afternoon, 26th July, is also a great call. A 5ft SSW swell with a 18-second period and a clean cross-offshore breeze. The energy is high at 1757. Excellent for experienced surfers.

Then things get rowdy. By Tuesday the 28th, the swell jumps up to 10ft, but it’s blowing onshore at 16 mph. That’s big, messy, and dangerous. This setup is more for the kite surfers than paddle surfers. The wind and swell size are just too much for a good time. This poor quality continues through to Wednesday the 30th, with the swell hitting 13ft and strong onshore winds. The combined energy peaks at a massive 7008, but it’s a washing machine.

The next window of opportunity opens up on Friday afternoon, 31st July. The swell has dropped to a clean 6ft from the WSW, and the wind swings offshore at 12 mph. The combined energy is still strong at 1215, and it’s going to be clean. This is a solid session for the experienced crew.

The next standout is Saturday morning, 1st August. It’s glassy again, with a 5ft WSW swell and an 11-second period. The energy is moderate at 766. It’s going to be a beautiful, clean morning. The afternoon is also glassy with a 4ft swell – a real mellow day.

After that, it winds down. The swell drops off, and by Monday the 3rd of August, we’re into small, weak, and messy conditions. The energy drops to 169, and it’s all cross-onshore and choppy. We’ve got a long gap of poor surf from the 3rd through to the 7th, with only tiny, weak swells and onshore winds. The combined energy is mostly in the low 100s to 200s – weak.

The very last look is on Friday morning, 7th August. It’s glassy again, with a 2ft SSW swell, but the period is a very long 16 seconds. The energy is weak at 457. It’s clean, but it’s small. A good dawny for the longboard, but nothing to get too excited about.

So, to wrap it up: the best bet is Saturday morning, 25th July, with that glassy, long-period groundswell. The second best is the Friday afternoon, 31st July, with the offshore wind. After that, it’s a long, slow fade.

Rusty.

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