The Rock-Costa Azul Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s coming at The Rock-Costa Azul.

Alright, we’ve got a long 16-day window, but don’t get too excited too fast – the real quality is going to be found in a few specific windows, and you’ve got to pick your moments. This is an advanced reef set-up, so it’s not for the faint of heart whether it’s firing or not.

The first real standout lands on Friday, August 28th, the morning session. We’re looking at a clean 4 ft groundswell, a very long period of 17 seconds from the SSW, and a light SW cross-off breeze. The combined energy is pumping at a solid 1127 (moderate to strong). That’s proper. That 17-second period means it’s going to be powerful, walling up perfectly on the reef. This is when you want to be out there. Get on it.

Saturday the 29th is okay in the morning, with 5 ft SSW swell and 16-second period, but the wind is the issue – it’s cross-shore and light, which will put some bumps on the face. Not terrible, but not the glass we want. The afternoon picks up wind from the west, but the rating drops because of a tide issue.

Sunday the 30th drops off a bit, lighter energy (1233) and a shorter period of 12 seconds. Still surfable, but the quality is slipping. Monday the 31st is a write-off in the morning, but then we get an interesting turnaround in the afternoon: 4 ft from the SW with a shorter 9-second period, but here’s the kicker – light cross-off wind and clean. The combo is enough to push the energy rating to 514 (moderate), and the score says "very good" for conditions. That’s a sneaky good session if you’re free.

Then we hit a dry spell. Tuesday the 1st of September and Wednesday the 2nd are effectively useless with onshore winds and poor conditions. A 2-day gap with nothing worth paddling for.

But hold on. Thursday, September 3rd has potential in the afternoon – a 5 ft SSW swell with 17-second period and light cross-shore wind. Energy is a ripping 1335. It’ll be clean enough to be fun, but you have to forgive the slight cross-chop. It’s still a good wave for the crew who know the rock.

Friday, September 4th is another standout. The morning is a mess with easterly onshore junk, but the afternoon. Wow. 5 ft SSW, 16-second period, clean, cross-off wind from the WSW. That is some of the best you’ll see in this forecast window. The energy is 1105. That is time for the late session.

Saturday the 5th and Sunday the 6th are good, clean runs but the swell size is dropping to about 3 ft to 4 ft. The Sunday morning on the 6th is a special one – glassy conditions, light out of the SW, and 3 ft of 14-second groundswell. That’s a quiet, perfect morning.

We then get a spike in size on Monday the 7th with 7 ft to 7 ft from the SW, but the period drops to 12 seconds and we’ve got cross-onshore wind. That’s big, lumpy, ugly for the rock. The energy is high at 1497 and 1514, but the quality is marginal. This is more of a tow or a kite session than a paddle day. The sets will be powerful but messy.

The absolute sleeper here is Tuesday, September 8th in the afternoon. Glassy to the max, 3 ft but with a 17-second period from the SSW, and the combined energy is still 1087. That is a long period, clean wave. Perfect for the reef. It will be a low-key session with nobody out.

The window closes with clean, rideable but smaller surf through the 9th and 10th of September, again with very glassy afternoons on the 10th. After that, it tails off into nothing from the 11th onwards.

The pick of the run: Friday, August 28th morning for the power, and Friday, September 4th afternoon for the clean, solid lines. Tuesday, September 8th afternoon is the secret glassy session for the connoisseur.

Remember, this is a reef break and an advanced wave. The crowds are often out here, so you’ll have to earn your spot.

Rusty.

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