The Rock-Costa Azul Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here, let’s break down what’s coming.

The water is warm, sitting at 86°F, which is about 5°F warmer than normal for this time of year, so you’ll be comfortable in boardshorts or a spring suit. The Rock-Costa Azul is a reef break that’s consistent and exposed to the south swell, and it’s strictly for advanced surfers – not a beginner’s spot.

We’ve got a slow start. The first worth paddling out for is Sunday morning, August 2nd. It’s small, only about 3ft from the SSW with a 13-second period, and the wind is glassy from the SSE. It’s not big, but it’ll be clean and fun. The wave energy is moderate (217).

Sunday afternoon the wind picks up to a cross-offshore from the west at 20 km/h, and the swell drops to about 2ft. Clean, but small. Monday and Tuesday are very ordinary – waves around 2ft to 2ft, just surfable, nothing exciting. Wednesday the 5th looks poor with cross-shore wind and small swell.

Thursday the 6th afternoon shows a little bump – about 2ft from the SSW, but with a very long period of 18 seconds. That’s a proper groundswell, and the energy jumps to 493 (moderate). The wind is cross-offshore, so it’s clean, but still marginal. Friday the 7th afternoon is the first real standout. The swell hits about 3ft from the SSW, period 17 seconds, and the energy is strong (586). With a cross-offshore wind from the WSW at 15 km/h, it’s clean and very good surf. This is the best session of the first week.

Saturday the 8th morning is a bit bigger at about 4ft from the SSW, but the wind is light cross-onshore, so it’s a little bumpy. The afternoon has a risk of thunderstorms, but the wind goes cross-off and it cleans up. The energy is still moderate (415). Sunday the 9th is similar, around 3ft, but with onshore wind, it’s not as good.

From Monday the 10th to Wednesday the 12th, it’s a mixed bag – small to moderate swell, but the wind is often onshore or cross-shore, keeping things average. Wednesday afternoon the 12th, the wind goes glassy from the south at 5 km/h, and the swell is about 2ft from the SW with a 16-second period, energy at 348. That’s a clean, glassy session worth a look.

Now, the real highlight of the whole 16-day run is the pair of sessions on Friday the 14th and Saturday the 15th. Friday morning the 14th, we’ve got about 5ft of SW swell with a 17-second period, and the wind is glassy from the south. The combined energy is a strong 1191. This is excellent surf for experienced surfers – the kind of day you clear your schedule for. The afternoon holds the same size and a clean cross-off wind. Saturday the 15th is just as good – about 4ft from the SW, 16-second period, and glassy conditions all day, with energy around 935-956. The swell direction matches the optimum, and the wind is perfect. This is the best on offer.

Sunday the 16th also looks very good – about 4ft from the SSW, 16-second period, glassy morning, with energy at 881. The afternoon has a risk of storms but the wind stays light cross-off.

Monday the 17th sees the swell drop a touch to about 4ft, but the wind is cross-onshore, so it’s more marginal.

Overall, the first week is a slow build with a few clean windows, but the real standout is the stretch from Friday the 14th through Sunday the 16th. That’s the time to plan around. The Rock-Costa Azul can get crowded often, so get there early for the best of it.

Rusty.

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