The Rock-Costa Azul Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right, g’day, I’m Rusty. Let’s have a look at what’s shaping up for the Rock-Costa Azul over the next couple of weeks.

The first half of the run is a bit of a mixed bag, but we’ve got a real standout window in the middle that’s worth circling on the calendar. The water is sitting at a very warm 88°F – that’s nearly 5°F above the norm for this time of year, so it’s muggy out there.

We’ve got a pulse of swell arriving from the south and southwest, but the early part of the outlook – Thursday 3rd and Friday 4th – is pretty average. The wind is cross-on from the SE and SSE, bringing in choppy, crumbly conditions. The waves are around 8ft and 7ft, which is big, but the cross-on wind is messing with the shape. The combined energy is pumping – 2377 and 2879 – but it’s just not clean enough for a good paddle. Beginners should steer clear of this size.

Then on Saturday 5th, things start to turn. The swell drops to 5ft from the SSW, but the wind swings cross-offshore from the SW in the morning, and the water cleans right up. The combined energy is still solid at 1799. That morning session is a cracker for experienced surfers – clean, lined-up waves. By the afternoon, the wind goes fully offshore from the WNW, but it’s a bit stronger at 15 mph, and the swell pushes up to 6ft. It’s still excellent, but that’s expert territory.

Sunday 6th is a beauty. The swell stays around 6ft from the WSW, with a light cross-offshore breeze in the morning and a light offshore from the NW in the afternoon. The combined energy sits at 1571 and 1387 – moderate but solid. Clean, punchy waves. The period is 12 seconds, so it’s got some proper groundswell push. Monday 7th is still good, with a light offshore breeze and the swell dropping to 5ft, but the energy is fading to 961.

The middle of the week from Tuesday 8th to Thursday 10th is a bit of a lull. The swell drops right down to 5ft to 3ft, and the wind is cross or cross-on, making for rippled, mediocre surf. The combined energy is down to 787 or less. Not much to get excited about.

Friday 11th and Saturday 12th are small – around 3ft to 3ft – but with clean offshore winds. The energy is weak (448 to 377), so it’s more of a longboard or funboard option. Nothing to write home about.

Now, the real standout. Sunday 13th to Monday 14th – the swell is tiny (2ft to 2ft), but the wind goes glassy on Monday morning, and the combined energy jumps to 400–425. The period is a very long 18 to 19 seconds, so these are long, rolling groundswells. That glassy Monday morning session is the absolute pick of the run – clean, glassy, and the long period means the waves will have shape and power, even at that size. The Rock-Costa Azul is a reef break, so it will handle that long-period swell beautifully.

The second week gets a bit more interesting. Tuesday 16th September afternoon sees the swell pop back to 3ft from the SSW, with a light cross-offshore breeze and clean conditions. The combined energy is 752 – moderate. That’s a solid fun session.

But the real late-week highlight is Thursday 17th September afternoon. The swell is 3ft from the SW, but the period is a massive 21 seconds – that’s very long-period groundswell. The wind is cross-offshore from the WSW, and the combined energy is 1246 – moderate to strong. That’s going to produce some beautiful, clean, long walls on the reef. For experienced surfers, that’s a standout session, but it’s a week and a half away, so keep an eye on it.

Friday 18th September morning is also worth a mention – glassy winds, 3ft swell from the SW with a 20-second period, and combined energy of 926. It’s clean and promising.

The crowd factor at The Rock-Costa Azul? It’s listed as “often” busy, so expect company, especially on those clean days.

Overall, the best on offer is Monday 14th September morning – glassy, clean, long-period groundswell, and the reef will handle it perfectly. The second standout is Thursday 17th September afternoon – that 21-second period with cross-offshore wind is a proper treat for the experienced crew.

Rusty.

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