Vagabundo Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, surfers, Rusty here. Let’s be real with you. I’ve looked at the charts for the next couple of weeks, and it’s a bit of a tough stretch for anyone chasing quality waves.

We’re looking at a run of onshore and cross-onshore winds that are going to keep things messy for the most part. The swell is there, but it’s short-period, wind-driven stuff, and it’s coming from the NNE. That’s not the direction we want to see for the best shape. The water’s about average for the time of year, so no worries there.

Currently, the swell energy is moderate, reading around 180 (combined energy) with a period of just 7 seconds. That’s junky, short-period swell, and with the wind blowing right on it, the surf is going to be poor. We’ll see some waves in the 3ft to 4ft range, but it’s going to be a messy, bumpy mess. Sunday looks similar, with a clean sky but the wind swinging more NE and picking up. It's not going to be pretty.

Monday the 3rd, the swell bumps up a touch to 5ft, but the onshore wind is still there. The small period of 6 seconds and the wind are just going to mush it all together. It’s all the same story through the first week: poor surf conditions with the wind chopping everything up.

The middle of the month brings a bit more size, but it’s still the same wind problem. By Thursday the 13th, we’re looking at 6ft to 7ft of swell, but it's still that weak, 7-second period stuff. The energy is building to a moderate 359 to 437, but with the onshore wind, it’s going to be a blown-out, bumpy mess.

The biggest swell arrives on Friday, August 14th. We’re talking about 7ft from the NNE with a period of 8 seconds. The combined energy jumps to a strong 570. But, and this is a big but, the wind is onshore and going to be strong. This is not a day for the faint of heart. At over 5ft, it’s already past beginner-friendly, and with this wind, it will be a tough, challenging paddle for anyone. This setup is looking a lot more interesting for the kite surfers than for us paddle surfers.

The weekend of the 15th and 16th sees the swell ease back down to the 5ft range, but the wind stays on it. The energy drops back to a moderate 298 to 356, but the conditions remain poor.

Honestly, there’s no standout day in this whole window. The wind is just relentless, and the swell is short-period and wind-blown. With the break at Vagabundos being consistent, it's not a total blank, but you’ll be scratching for anything clean. It’s a poor run, but these stretches don't usually last forever. Keep an eye on the charts, because things can change.

Rusty out.

Read more