Friday, March 17, 2017

CRNW 2017-0317 (Fri) Forecast & Report

Checked the Rock at 5:45am, very weak and very small (not breaking) and went back to bed for 15 minutes or so, and then made coffee. Perched ourselves at the usual spot and enjoyed the morning, counted the fishing boats heading south (4) and wrapped up with breakfast. Then resumed drinking some more coffee and observing the seas. It is beautiful and the Papagayos are still whipping.

As you can see below, the NNE being the "dominant swell" for the reporting period tells the story. A nearby break was reported as 1-2 ft.

Overall, we had a great trip aside from our back annoyances that kept us out of the ocean a few days. Still, not bad for a couple of 60s somethings. For all intents and purposes the only "wave" we surfed on this trip was The Wash. The Wash delivered as usual until the past couple of days.

  Model Cycle: 2017 MAR 17 06Z          
  Time Zone: GMT - 6 hours              
-------------------------------------------------------------
             SURF    SURF DIR   SEAS  PERIOD   WIND    WND/DIR
             (ft)       (deg)   (ft)   (sec)   (kts)     (deg)
            -------  --------  -----  ------  -------  -------
3/17  12am   4 -  8   SW 217    5.5    13.4   22 - 29  ENE  52
3/17   6am   1 -  3  NNE  24    5.7     5.8   18 - 24   NE  49
3/17  12pm   2 -  4  NNE  19    4.9     6.9   10 - 13   NE  43
3/17   6pm   3 -  7   SW 219    4.2    15.5    4 -  5  ESE 114
 
 

Thursday, March 16, 2017

CRNW 2017-0316 (Thu) Forecast & Report

Next to last full day.  Up at 5:30a for surf check. Tide too full, going out and swell to small, offshores too strong. Something. It really, really wasn't working. Fingers crossed for incoming high tide with onshore winds from SW to give us some bump late this afternoon. Tomorrow morning does not look promising so this could be the last hurrah!!

Friday Update: We paddled out mid-afternoon or so, catching a couple of week waves rather quickly, and then it was sit and wait, sit and wait, trying several different take off zones in the Wash, Southside Rock, Rodrigo's Rights, etc. Finally we made our way in on a weak one. I waiting for one of the inside waves for my "wave of the day" which actually juiced a bit, nice and steep and a cutback.

Counted 10-12 boats headed south today.



  Model Cycle: 2017 MAR 16 06Z          
  Time Zone: GMT - 6 hours              
-------------------------------------------------------------
             SURF    SURF DIR   SEAS  PERIOD   WIND    WND/DIR
             (ft)       (deg)   (ft)   (sec)   (kts)     (deg)
            -------  --------  -----  ------  -------  -------
3/16  12am   3 -  7   SW 221    4.5    14.3   16 - 22   NE  44
3/16   6am   4 -  8   SW 220    5.0    14.1   16 - 22   NE  43
3/16  12pm   3 -  7   SW 220    4.6    13.6   10 - 14  NNE  28
3/16   6pm   3 -  6   SW 219    4.3    13.5    9 - 12  ENE  64
 
3/17  12am   4 -  8   SW 217    5.2    13.4   19 - 26  ENE  50
3/17   6am   2 -  4  NNE  17    5.6     6.0   17 - 24   NE  49
3/17  12pm   2 -  4  NNE  19    5.0     6.9    9 - 12   NE  37
3/17   6pm   4 -  8   SW 219    4.3    15.5    6 -  8  ENE  78

Wednesday, March 15, 2017

CRNW 2017-0315 (Wed) Forecast & Report

It's A Beautiful Day. Back in the water, so good to have most of the kinks worked out of our backs. Paddled out with high going low, was a full tide 9.5, going to low of -0.5, so changing rapidly. We caught an hour of action before the outgoing tide killed it. First wave at 6:30a, last wave at 7:30a, first half hour being the best. Papagayos were back this morning after a few days of general wind activity.

Surf was 2-3 ft., but fun to be well enough to paddle out, catch waves, turn, etc., with no ill effect.

Watched the boats heading south from Tamarindo to the fishing grounds at 8am while sipping coffee at the usual perch. Then breakfast at 9am

  Model Cycle: 2017 MAR 15 06Z          
  Time Zone: GMT - 6 hours              
-------------------------------------------------------------
             SURF    SURF DIR   SEAS  PERIOD   WIND    WND/DIR
             (ft)       (deg)   (ft)   (sec)   (kts)     (deg)
            -------  --------  -----  ------  -------  -------
3/15   6am   4 -  8   SW 219    4.7    14.9   15 - 21   NE  46
3/15  12pm   3 -  7   SW 220    4.5    14.5    1 -  2  ENE  52
3/15   6pm   3 -  7   SW 220    4.2    14.3    8 - 12  SSW 194
 
3/16   6am   4 -  8   SW 220    5.2    14.1   17 - 23   NE  44
3/16  12pm   3 -  7   SW 221    4.9    13.6   10 - 14  NNE  27
3/16   6pm   3 -  7   SW 219    4.4    13.5    6 -  8  ESE 100
 
3/17   6am   4 -  8   SW 215    5.2    13.2   17 - 24  ENE  52
3/17  12pm   3 -  6   SW 215    4.6    12.8    9 - 12   NE  35
3/17   6pm   4 -  8   SW 219    4.5    15.5   13 - 18   NE  48
 
 

Tuesday, March 14, 2017

CRNW 2017-0314 (Tue) Forecast & Report

Did not do the early morning surf... still out of commission. Maybe this afternoon after medicating with some Dr. Ibu and Dr. Flor de CaƱa.


  Model Cycle: 2017 MAR 14 06Z          
  Time Zone: GMT - 6 hours              
-------------------------------------------------------------
             SURF    SURF DIR   SEAS  PERIOD   WIND    WND/DIR
             (ft)       (deg)   (ft)   (sec)   (kts)     (deg)
            -------  --------  -----  ------  -------  -------
3/14   6am   3 -  7   SW 218    4.0    16.4   11 - 15   NE  46
3/14  12pm   3 -  7   SW 218    4.0    15.6    6 -  9    W 272
3/14   6pm   3 -  7   SW 218    4.3    15.4    6 -  9    S 181
 
3/15   6am   4 -  9   SW 219    5.0    14.9   17 - 24  ENE  50
3/15  12pm   4 -  8   SW 220    4.6    14.5    4 -  5   NE  43
3/15   6pm   3 -  7   SW 220    4.2    14.3    6 -  8    S 175
 
3/16   6am   4 -  8   SW 220    5.2    14.1   17 - 23   NE  43
3/16  12pm   4 -  8   SW 221    4.9    13.6   12 - 16   NE  33
3/16   6pm   3 -  6   SW 219    4.3    13.5    7 - 10  SSE 167
 
3/17   6am   3 -  7   SW 215    5.0    13.2   17 - 23   NE  49
3/17  12pm   3 -  6   SW 215    4.5    12.8    8 - 11   NE  41
3/17   6pm   3 -  7   SW 219    4.3    15.5   11 - 15  ENE  53

Monday, March 13, 2017

CRNW 2017-0313 (Mon) Forecast & Report

Lower back is still in a funk, no surfriding day for me today. Fingers crossed for tomorrow.



  Model Cycle: 2017 MAR 13 06Z          
  Time Zone: GMT - 6 hours              
-------------------------------------------------------------
             SURF    SURF DIR   SEAS  PERIOD   WIND    WND/DIR
             (ft)       (deg)   (ft)   (sec)   (kts)     (deg)
            -------  --------  -----  ------  -------  -------
3/13  12am   3 -  6  SSW 201    3.8    13.8    5 -  6  ENE  64
3/13   6am   4 -  8   SW 219    3.9    17.8    9 - 13   NE  44
3/13  12pm   4 -  8   SW 218    3.8    17.6    8 - 10    W 262
3/13   6pm   3 -  7   SW 218    3.9    16.7    7 -  9   SW 227
 
3/14  12am   3 -  7   SW 218    3.8    16.6    5 -  7  ENE  60
3/14   6am   3 -  7   SW 218    3.7    16.4    9 - 12  NNE  27
3/14  12pm   3 -  7   SW 218    3.8    15.6    9 - 13   NW 314
3/14   6pm   4 -  8   SW 218    4.4    15.4    8 - 11  ENE  53
 
3/15  12am   3 -  7   SW 219    4.4    15.3   15 - 20  ENE  62
3/15   6am   4 -  8   SW 219    4.9    14.9   16 - 22   NE  48
3/15  12pm   3 -  7   SW 220    4.6    14.5    6 -  8   NE  41
3/15   6pm   3 -  7   SW 220    4.1    14.3    4 -  6  ESE 123
 
3/16  12am   3 -  7   SW 221    4.3    14.3   16 - 22  ENE  56
3/16   6am   4 -  8   SW 220    5.2    14.1   17 - 24   NE  48
3/16  12pm   3 -  7   SW 221    4.7    13.6    6 -  9   NE  35
3/16   6pm   3 -  7   SW 219    4.4    13.5    8 - 11  SSE 165
 
3/17  12am   3 -  7   SW 217    4.5    13.4   17 - 23  ENE  53
3/17   6am   4 -  8   SW 215    5.2    13.2   17 - 23  ENE  51
3/17  12pm   3 -  6   SW 215    4.5    12.8    6 -  8  ENE  62
3/17   6pm   3 -  7   SW 220    4.1    15.5    4 -  6  SSE 163
 
 
 

Sunday, March 12, 2017

CRNW 2017-0312 (Sun) Forecast & Report

We did not surf today, taking a day off and recovering from our back annoyances. Think the plastic chairs did me in... should be better tomorrow. Swell rest of the week so surfriding will be up to the wind gods.

Saw two guys riding the Outer Wash late this morning during low tide. Waves were mostly smallish, 4-6 ft. with very short rides and hard to catch. A bodyboarder and a shortboarder. They paddled back in at the south lava rock inlet area, but climbed up the ledge.

  Model Cycle: 2017 MAR 12 06Z          
  Time Zone: GMT - 6 hours              
-------------------------------------------------------------
             SURF    SURF DIR   SEAS  PERIOD   WIND    WND/DIR
             (ft)       (deg)   (ft)   (sec)   (kts)     (deg)
            -------  --------  -----  ------  -------  -------
3/12   6am   3 -  7  SSW 199    4.2    15.3   12 - 17  ENE  53
3/12  12pm   3 -  7  SSW 200    4.2    14.6    7 - 10   SW 222
3/12   6pm   3 -  7  SSW 201    4.1    14.3    6 -  9  SSW 202
 
3/13   6am   4 -  8   SW 219    3.8    17.8    9 - 12   NE  31
3/13  12pm   4 -  8   SW 218    3.8    17.6    8 - 11    W 271
3/13   6pm   4 -  8   SW 218    4.2    16.7    9 - 12   SW 213
 
3/14   6am   3 -  7   SW 218    3.7    16.4    9 - 12  NNE  26
3/14  12pm   3 -  7   SW 218    3.9    15.6   10 - 14   NW 319
3/14   6pm   4 -  8   SW 218    4.3    15.4    9 - 12   NE  43
 
3/15   6am   4 -  8   SW 219    4.8    14.9   15 - 21   NE  48
3/15  12pm   3 -  7   SW 220    4.5    14.5    8 - 11  NNE  17
3/15   6pm   3 -  7   SW 220    4.2    14.3    8 - 11   SE 134
 
3/16   6am   4 -  8   SW 220    4.8    14.1   16 - 22   NE  46
3/16  12pm   3 -  7   SW 221    4.5    13.6    7 - 10  NNE  28
3/16   6pm   3 -  6   SW 219    4.3    13.5    7 - 10  SSE 151
 
3/17   6am   3 -  7   SW 215    5.0    13.2   17 - 23   NE  45
3/17  12pm   3 -  6   SW 215    4.5    12.8    8 - 12   NE  33
3/17   6pm   3 -  7   SW 220    4.2    15.5    8 - 12  ENE  74 
 
 

Saturday, March 11, 2017

CRNW 2017-0311 (Sat) Forecast & Report

Still hours away from paddling out, low has transitioned to incoming tide, but it looks like it will be bigger today. I may need a day off to focus for rest of the week. The table below shows several swells in the 16-17 sec range.

Dave had a rough evening last night not even finishing dinner. He is feeling better today (Saturday) but will not go out.  With plenty of swell coming our way I may take a pass and let my body heal and re-energize for rest of the trip.

Decided to take the plunge around noon. As I sat at the water's edge putting on my fin sox and swim fins it was a sunny, beautiful light offshore wind with the near shore waves breaking nicely. By the time I had paddled out to The Rock the wind was blowing hard on-shore and big chunks of chop and whitecapping everywhere. All in 15 minutes. Two rides and went in!  I should have gone out an hour earlier. Dunce cap for me!



  Model Cycle: 2017 MAR 11 06Z          
  Time Zone: GMT - 6 hours              
-------------------------------------------------------------
             SURF    SURF DIR   SEAS  PERIOD   WIND    WND/DIR
             (ft)       (deg)   (ft)   (sec)   (kts)     (deg)
            -------  --------  -----  ------  -------  -------
3/11  12am   3 -  6   SW 216    3.9    13.5   14 - 20  ENE  60 SAT
3/11   6am   3 -  7   SW 217    4.6    13.5   14 - 20  ENE  58
3/11  12pm   4 -  8  SSW 194    4.1    17.5    5 -  7  WSW 231
3/11   6pm   3 -  7  SSW 196    4.0    16.4    6 -  9   SW 217
 
3/12   6am   3 -  7  SSW 199    4.2    15.3   11 - 16  ENE  53 SUN
3/12  12pm   3 -  7  SSW 200    4.2    14.6    7 -  9  WSW 233
3/12   6pm   3 -  6  SSW 201    4.1    14.3    7 -  9  SSW 193
 
3/13   6am   4 -  8   SW 219    3.8    17.8    8 - 11  NNE  24 MON
3/13  12pm   4 -  8   SW 218    3.8    17.6    8 - 11    W 271
3/13   6pm   4 -  8   SW 218    4.0    16.7    7 - 10  SSW 193
 
3/14   6am   3 -  7   SW 218    3.7    16.4    8 - 11  NNE  27 TUE
3/14  12pm   3 -  7   SW 218    3.8    15.6    9 - 12  WNW 300
3/14   6pm   3 -  7   SW 218    4.2    15.4    2 -  3  ESE 113
 
3/15   6am   3 -  7   SW 219    4.3    14.8   13 - 18   NE  43 WED
3/15  12pm   3 -  7   SW 220    4.2    14.5    5 -  7    N 352
3/15   6pm   3 -  6   SW 221    4.0    14.3    8 - 11  SSE 152
 
3/16   6am   3 -  7   SW 221    4.7    14.1   16 - 21   NE  45 THU
3/16  12pm   3 -  6   SW 221    4.3    13.6    4 -  5    N   1
3/16   6pm   3 -  6   SW 219    4.0    13.5   10 - 14    S 177
 
3/17   6am   3 -  6   SW 215    4.4    13.2   14 - 20  ENE  55 FRI
3/17  12pm   2 -  5   SW 215    3.8    12.8    6 -  8   SW 212
3/17   6pm   3 -  6   SW 220    3.6    15.5    7 -  9  SSW 198
 
3/18  12am   2 -  5   SW 219    3.3    15.2    8 - 12   NE  37 SAT
 
 
Effective Friday evening 
       FORECAST HIGHLIGHTS 
  • Fun surf Sat-Mon
  • Light/favorable AM winds
  • Fun to mid size surf mid to late month
SHORT TERM FORECAST: (through Monday, March 13th)                        

South Pacific: We'll see a mix of southerly swells over the weekend and into early next week, which will keep fun size surf rolling in.

SW swell (220-210 degrees) that filled in today (Fri) above forecast will continue into Saturday as new SSW swell (205-190) gradually fills in. Look for the better breaks to see surf in the chest-shoulder occ. head high range, as standout spots pick up sets running slightly overhead.

Similar size surf prevails Sunday and into Monday as the SSW swell becomes the dominant source of surf and the SW swell trends to smaller leftovers. Exposed breaks see surf in the chest-shoulder occ. head high range, with a few larger sets at standout spots.

Wind/Weather: A diurnal pattern continues across most of Costa Rica through the next several days. Mornings will start with light/variable to locally light offshore flow, with winds trending onshore by the mid to late morning. Then a light to moderate onshore sea-breeze develops in the afternoons, with a clean up in some areas around sunset.

For northernmost CR (north of Playa Grande), look for moderate offshore flow to prevail over the next few days.

EXTENDED FORECAST: (Tuesday, March 14th, and beyond) 
    
South Pacific: As the weekend swell winds down early next week, we'll see a new SW swell (225-205) fill in from a fairly string, but distant, storm near New Zealand several days ago. Look for this new swell to gradually build on Monday, with a peak in size Tue-Wed before easing on Thursday. While the distant storm/source will likely make for a lully swell, more chest-head high surf looks likely Tue-Wed, with sets puhsing into the overhead range (possibly 1-2' feet overhead) at standout spots. Stay tuned, we'll refine details in Monday's forecast.

Beyond that, our next swell of note is lining up fro the 19th-21st, from a storm now several hundred miles east-southeast of New Zealand. So far it has lived up to model guidance and appears to be in the same size class as the swell discussed directly above.

Even further out, the final 7-10 days of the month look likely to remain active. While there is some uncertainty on exact details, there is a strong chance that we'll continue to see at least fun size surf (chest-head high) and a moderate chance of medium size surf (up to a couple feet overhead at good spots). We'll be able to firm up details as we see these storms come together, so look for more info during the next week.




 

Friday, March 10, 2017

CRNW 2017-0310 (Fri) Forecast & Report

Report to follow later... paddling out later ;)

Drum roll: Initial surf check and WHOA! Three guys are out, two around the Rock and the third at Outer Lil' Ala Moana. We watch a while and a fourth paddles out. We decide to wait awhile and see if the wind produces a more southerly rather than northerly offshore. David is hurting but raring to go out. I see Terry's Tubos might be working so gear up as well. 

Tubos isn't working so I paddle out about 5 minutes behind David. While I am paddling out, 4 becomes 3. David talks to the one guy we know who starts apologizing for bringing the others out. He goes in about 10 minutes later. I quickly catch a wave in spot, steep tight turn at top and then roundhouse back into the steepness and continue on for  a good ride. The two strangers remain on the inside and eventually catch waves to go in. Down to 2!

Dave doesn't catch waves for about 15 minutes while I had 3 really good ones. His back isn't feeling good (maybe the chairs here) so he goes in. Down to 1. I have a great 45 minutes with the waves consistent, steep clean takeoffs between Inside Rock and Inside Lil' Ala Moana, steep walls. One particular outstanding memory moment on a wave between those two spots, as I cut across inside The Rock, I can feel some white water spitting over my back.

Some power in these waves today, felt the extra periodicity and just a little bump from offshore wind chop. But mostly the power. My body is feeling it! The shaka-chaka treatment. Waves during my period of surfing were 3-6 ft, maybe some larger take-offs.

Dave had a rough evening not even finishing dinner. He is feeling better today (Saturday) but will not go out. 

Righteous session!

  Model Cycle: 2017 MAR 10 06Z          
  Time Zone: GMT - 6 hours              
-------------------------------------------------------------
             SURF    SURF DIR   SEAS  PERIOD   WIND    WND/DIR
             (ft)       (deg)   (ft)   (sec)   (kts)     (deg)
            -------  --------  -----  ------  -------  -------
3/10   6am   4 -  8   SW 216    4.8    14.3   15 - 21  ENE  56 FRI
3/10  12pm   3 -  7   SW 216    4.2    14.2    2 -  3   SE 149
3/10   6pm   3 -  6   SW 216    3.9    13.7    8 - 11   SW 217
 
 
 
3/11   6am   3 -  6   SW 217    4.3    13.5   13 - 17  ENE  53 SAT
3/11  12pm   4 -  8  SSW 194    4.1    17.5    7 -  9   SW 228
3/11   6pm   3 -  7  SSW 196    3.9    16.5    6 -  8  SSW 209
 
3/12   6am   3 -  7  SSW 199    4.1    15.3   11 - 15   NE  49 SUN
3/12  12pm   3 -  7  SSW 200    4.2    14.6    6 -  8  WSW 230
3/12   6pm   3 -  6  SSW 201    4.0    14.3    6 -  9    S 184
 
3/13   6am   4 -  8   SW 219    3.8    17.8    7 - 10   NE  30 MON
3/13  12pm   3 -  7   SW 218    3.7    17.6    6 -  8    W 263
3/13   6pm   3 -  7   SW 218    3.8    16.7    3 -  5    S 189
 
3/14   6am   3 -  7   SW 218    3.7    16.4    7 -  9    N   2 TUE
3/14  12pm   3 -  6   SW 218    3.6    15.6    9 - 12    W 273
3/14   6pm   3 -  6   SW 218    3.6    15.4    7 -  9  SSW 203
 
3/15   6am   3 -  6   SW 219    3.6    14.8   12 - 16   NE  30 WED
3/15  12pm   3 -  6   SW 220    3.9    14.5    6 -  8    N   6
3/15   6pm   3 -  6   SW 221    3.8    14.3    8 - 11  SSE 168
 
3/16   6am   3 -  6   SW 221    4.0    14.0   13 - 18  ENE  50 THU
3/16  12pm   3 -  6   SW 221    3.9    13.6    2 -  2  WSW 256
3/16   6pm   2 -  5   SW 220    3.6    13.5    7 - 10  SSW 193 
 
LAST DAY 
3/17  12am   2 -  5   SW 218    3.4    13.4   10 - 14   NE  44 FRI