The Rock-Costa Azul Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here with a look at what’s coming down the line for the next couple of weeks. The Rock-Costa Azul is an exposed reef break, dialled for advanced surfers, and it’s about to get a proper taste of the Southern Ocean. The water temperature is sitting at 86°, a full 4° warmer than usual for this time of year – that’s a solid anomaly and feels more like a tropical bath than a typical winter dip.

The big news is Wednesday the 29th. We’ve got a powerful groundswell rolling in, straight out of the SSE, pushing a solid 5ft worth of energy. This isn't just any swell; the combined wave energy is a massive 1704, which is strong and full of grunt. The period is a long 16 seconds, meaning those waves will have serious shape and juice. To top it off, the wind goes glassy in the morning and swings to a clean offshore from the WNW in the afternoon. This is the standout of the entire forecast – excellent conditions for those with the skill to handle it. This swell is too big and powerful for beginners.

By Thursday the 30th, the swell drops a notch to 4ft, but the period stays long at 14 seconds. Morning winds are a bit cross, not ideal, but the afternoon cleans right up with a moderate WNW offshore. It’s still a good day, just not the same beast as Wednesday.

Friday the 31st sees the swell fade to 3ft. The winds are a bit messy – cross-onshore in the morning and a stiff cross-offshore later. The combined energy drops to 406, so it’s much weaker. It’s surfable but nothing to race for.

Saturday the 1st of August is a write-off with poor conditions and a weak, sloppy 3ft swell. A risk of thunderstorms in the afternoon doesn't help.

Sunday the 2nd is a surprise recovery. The swell is tiny at 3ft, but the morning is glassy, and the wind goes moderate offshore in the afternoon. The combined energy is down at 268, but for a small wave log or a longboard, those glassy conditions make it a fun, clean session.

From Monday the 3rd through to Tuesday the 11th of August, it’s a long run of small, weak surf. The swell hovers between 1ft and 4ft, and the combined energy mostly sits under 500. The winds are generally cross-offshore or clean, but there’s just not enough size to get excited. There’s a bit of a spark on the afternoon of Monday the 10th of August, where a very long-period 20-second swell pushes through at 2ft, with a combined energy of 619 and clean winds. That's a tease of good quality but lacking in height.

The second week picks up around Wednesday the 12th of August with a consistent 3ft to 4ft SSW swell and periods staying in the 15-18 second range. Winds are clean in the afternoons, making for some very good, long-period lines. It’s worth checking out if you need a fix, but it’s nothing like that Wednesday stand-out.

So, lock in Wednesday the 29th of July and Thursday the 30th as your best bets. After that, you’ll be waiting a while for the size to come back. Keep an eye on the afternoon of the 10th and the week of the 12th for some clean, small-wave sessions.

Rusty.

Read more