CRNW 2017-0309 (Thu) Forecast & Report

Another fun day surfriding The Rock! I think are bodies are beginning to tire after four consecutive surf days plus our arrival afternoon and an off day after arrival day. Swell was a little larger today resulting in slightly larger drops but most wave shoulder faces were 3 to 4 ft. down the line, some a little larger. Increased punchiness and length of rides confirms the longer period swell. Where I did not have a real long ride there was usually an inside wall to take within minutes -- some of these inside rides were the best ones of the day. Winds were offshore, stronger with northerly angle during the last half hour so I called it quits at that point after riding blind for 30 yards on one ride.

In summary, it is easy to call the last couple of days 3-5 ft, offshores, sometimes strong.

  Model Cycle: 2017 MAR 09 06Z          
  Time Zone: GMT - 6 hours              
-------------------------------------------------------------
             SURF    SURF DIR   SEAS  PERIOD   WIND    WND/DIR
             (ft)       (deg)   (ft)   (sec)   (kts)     (deg)
            -------  --------  -----  ------  -------  -------
3/9    6am   4 -  9   SW 214    5.1    15.3   15 - 20   NE  44 THU
3/9   12pm   4 -  8   SW 216    4.4    15.2    5 -  7    N 356
3/9    6pm   3 -  7   SW 214    4.5    14.6   13 - 18   NE  43
 
3/10   6am   4 -  8   SW 216    5.1    14.3   16 - 21  ENE  59 FRI
3/10  12pm   3 -  7   SW 216    4.4    14.2    2 -  3  SSE 161
3/10   6pm   3 -  6   SW 216    3.9    13.7    6 -  8  SSW 204
 
3/11   6am   3 -  7   SW 217    4.6    13.5   14 - 19  ENE  55 SAT
3/11  12pm   4 -  8  SSW 194    4.2    17.5    5 -  7   SW 220
3/11   6pm   3 -  7  SSW 196    4.0    16.5    6 -  8  SSW 209
 
3/12   6am   3 -  7  SSW 199    4.1    15.3    9 - 13  ENE  51 SUN
3/12  12pm   3 -  7  SSW 200    4.1    14.6    5 -  7   SW 226
3/12   6pm   3 -  6  SSW 201    3.9    14.3    2 -  3  WSW 231
 
3/13   6am   3 -  7   SW 219    3.7    17.8    4 -  6  NNE  15 MON
3/13  12pm   3 -  7   SW 218    3.7    17.6    6 -  8    W 274
3/13   6pm   3 -  7   SW 218    3.7    16.7    3 -  4   SW 221
 
3/14   6am   3 -  7   SW 218    3.6    16.4    5 -  7  NNW 345 TUE
3/14  12pm   3 -  6   SW 218    3.6    15.6    7 - 10  WNW 296
3/14   6pm   3 -  7   SW 218    3.8    15.4    5 -  7  WSW 235
 
3/15   6am   4 -  8   SW 219    4.7    14.8   15 - 21   NE  38 WED
3/15  12pm   3 -  7   SW 220    4.6    14.5    7 - 10   NE  32
3/15   6pm   3 -  7   SW 221    4.1    14.3    6 -  8  ESE 106
 
3/16  12am   4 -  8   SW 221    4.8    14.3   18 - 24   NE  48 THU

Effective Wednesday evening

FORECAST HIGHLIGHTS 

• Fun surf Fri-Mon
• Light/favorable AM winds
• More fun surf long range (but nothing major)

SHORT TERM FORECAST: (through Monday, March 13th)                        

South Pacific: Fresh Southern Hemi swell will gradually build in Thursday with modest/fun zone surf, but will primarily show from this Friday through next Monday the 13th. This will be more 'west' than the swells we've seen of late coming from the SW (220-210 degrees) for Fri-Sat from a distant storm recently near New Zealand. While sets are likely lully, fun size waves in the waist-chest high range look likely at the better breaks, while standouts see occasional shoulder high sets.

A follow-up SSW swell (205-190) for Sun-Mon should be both slightly larger and at least a bit more consistent thanks to a closer storm the past couple days. At this point we expect the exposed breaks to see waist-shoulder high surf, while good spots hit head high (and standouts may even be a little larger).

Wind/Weather: A diurnal pattern continues across most of Costa Rica through the week. 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 breezy offshore flow to persist for the remainder of the week.

EXTENDED FORECAST: (Tuesday, March 14th, and beyond)   
       
South Pacific: The swell mentioned above will be fading into mid-week while a fresh SW swell (225-205) moves in to maintain at least waist-chest high surf at good spots while standouts go shoulder high on sets. Wednesday looks like the strongest day with potential for sets running up to head high at focal points.

Beyond that, model guidance has been fairly consistent in showing more swells from the SW and SSW through the back half of the month. We're of at least medium confidence that more fun size surf will prevail, at least similar in size to the above swells. We'll have more details in our next few forecast updates.

CRNW 2017-0308 (Wed) Forecast & Report

The written forecast below is close to what we have experienced today although if we were chasing a few of the take-off drops at Southside Rock or Lil Alamoana they would be head high+. Another fun morning surf after breakfast mostly with rides at The Wash and some Southside Wash. Both us were very satisfied boys today. Especially with the fresh water flowing again at the villa! Breakfast before surfing this morning. I would call most of our waves 3 ft., some with larger drops and sometimes on the inside it would wall up nicely to 4 ft. or something.

  Model Cycle: 2017 MAR 08 06Z          
  Time Zone: GMT - 6 hours              
-------------------------------------------------------------
             SURF    SURF DIR   SEAS  PERIOD   WIND    WND/DIR
             (ft)       (deg)   (ft)   (sec)   (kts)     (deg)
            -------  --------  -----  ------  -------  -------
3/8   12am   2 -  5  SSW 195    4.0    12.4   18 - 24  ENE  54 WED
3/8    6am   3 -  7  SSW 196    4.8    12.3   15 - 21  ENE  52
3/8   12pm   4 -  8   SW 211    4.2    16.4    6 -  9  NNE  28
3/8    6pm   4 -  8   SW 214    4.2    16.3   16 - 21  ENE  52
 
3/9   12am   5 - 10   SW 210    5.5    15.5   18 - 24  ENE  52 THU
3/9    6am   4 -  9   SW 214    5.0    15.3   15 - 20   NE  42
3/9   12pm   4 -  8   SW 216    4.5    15.2    9 - 12  NNE  18
3/9    6pm   4 -  8   SW 214    4.7    14.6   15 - 21  ENE  50
 
3/10   6am   4 -  9   SW 216    5.2    14.3   17 - 23  ENE  56 FRI
3/10  12pm   3 -  7   SW 216    4.5    14.2    4 -  5  ENE  71
3/10   6pm   3 -  6   SW 216    4.1    13.7    8 - 11  SSW 203
 
3/11   6am   3 -  7   SW 217    4.6    13.5   14 - 20  ENE  51 SAT
3/11  12pm   4 -  8  SSW 194    4.2    17.5    4 -  6   SW 211
3/11   6pm   4 -  8  SSW 196    4.1    16.4    9 - 13  SSW 203
 
3/12   6am   3 -  7  SSW 199    3.9    15.3    9 - 12   NE  44 SUN
3/12  12pm   3 -  6  SSW 200    3.9    14.6    6 -  8  WSW 252
3/12   6pm   3 -  6  SSW 201    3.8    14.3    4 -  5  WSW 238
 
3/13   6am   3 -  7   SW 219    3.7    17.8    3 -  5    N 359 MON
3/13  12pm   3 -  7   SW 218    3.7    17.6    6 -  9  WNW 288
3/13   6pm   3 -  7   SW 218    3.7    16.7    5 -  7  WSW 242
 
3/14   6am   3 -  7   SW 218    3.6    16.4    4 -  6  NNW 349 TUE
3/14  12pm   3 -  6   SW 219    3.6    15.6    7 - 10  WNW 280
3/14   6pm   3 -  7   SW 219    3.8    15.4    9 - 13   SW 227
 
3/15  12am   3 -  6   SW 219    3.6    15.3    3 -  4  NNE  17 WED

Effective Monday afternoon

FORECAST HIGHLIGHTS 

• Smaller/fading Tue-Wed
• Fun surf Fri-Mon
• More fun surf long range (but nothing major)

SHORT TERM FORECAST: (through Wednesday, March 8th)                        

South Pacific: The fun to mid size, overlapping SSW swells (210-190) from the past couple days will trend town through mid week. Look for still rideable, fairly fun size surf on Tuesday in the 2-3'+ range for many breaks, with sets to 4' (shoulder high) at the top breaks. Smaller leftovers are expected on Wednesday, with the majority of spots falling to waist high and below.

Wind/Weather: A diurnal pattern continues across most of Costa Rica through the week. 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 breezy offshore flow to persist for most of the week.

EXTENDED FORECAST: (Thursday, March 9th, and beyond) 
      
South Pacific: While there is still nothing major on the radar in the medium or long term, there are plenty of fun size pulses (between chest and head high) that we'll be tracking for the next 7-10+ days.

The next swells on the horizon will primarily show from Friday the 10th through the following Monday the 13th. The first of these swells will be more 'west' than we've seen of late coming from the SW (220-210 degrees) for Fri-Sat from a distant storm recently near New Zealand. While sets are likely lully, fun size waves in the waist-chest high range look likely at the better breaks, while standouts see occasional shoulder high sets.

A follow-up SSW swell (205-190) for Sun-Mon should be both slightly larger and at least a bit more consistent thanks to a closer storm the past couple days. At this point we expect the exposed breaks to see waist-shoulder high surf, while good spots hit head high (and standouts may even be a little larger). Stay tuned, we'll refine details in the next few days.

Beyond that, model guidance has been fairly consistent in showing more swells from the SW and SSW through the middle part of the month (14th-18th and possibly beyond). We're of at least medium confidence that more fun size surf will prevail, roughly similar in size to the above swells. We'll have more details in our next few forecast updates. 

 

 

CRNW 2017-0307 (Tue) Forecast & Report

Awake at 6a, start to prepare the morning coffee and No Water. We scrap together water from glasses and bottles in the room and are able to make a pot! The next challenge will be managing the toilet if this goes on for hours. It goes on for hours. Getting ripe in there!!! Especially when your roomie never shuts the toilet lid!!!

Surf looks small at coffee time--the bay is not alive with white water. But there is hope since we just hitting a rising mid-tide. We initially paddle out and over to the original SR's surf spot north/central cove since it appeared some nice rights were rolling in and the offshores had some northerlies in them. By the time we get over there the wind is switching to offshore with some southerlies. After a half hour we decide to paddle over to The Rock so the offshores induced spray is behind us not spraying our faces the entire ride.

The surf has picked up, swells are not be dragged along the outer reefs as they move in with a higher tide. We catch many fun ones, several clean face Wash waves. I will peg the surf at mostly 3-5 ft., but we have some nice solid head highs rolling riding the Southside Rock 8-footer reforms. Towards the end of our session, the guy from Long Island that used to stay at our villa paddled out. Nice to chat a little with him. My last wave took me virtually all the wave to the put-in reef zone.

Another good breakfast.

Internet very sketchy today.

  Model Cycle: 2017 MAR 07 06Z         
  Time Zone: GMT - 6 hours             
-------------------------------------------------------------
             SURF    SURF DIR   SEAS  PERIOD   WIND    WND/DIR
             (ft)       (deg)   (ft)   (sec)   (kts)     (deg)
            -------  --------  -----  ------  -------  -------
3/7    6am   3 -  6  SSW 193    4.2    12.9   12 - 17  ENE  52 TUE
3/7   12pm   3 -  6  SSW 192    4.0    12.7    5 -  7    S 177
3/7    6pm   2 -  5  SSW 193    3.5    12.5    8 - 11   SW 222

3/8    6am   3 -  6  SSW 196    4.6    12.3   16 - 21   NE  45 WED
3/8   12pm   4 -  8   SW 211    4.2    16.4    7 - 10  NNE  28
3/8    6pm   4 -  8   SW 214    4.2    16.3    9 - 13  ENE  65

3/9    6am   4 -  8   SW 214    4.9    15.3   15 - 20   NE  37 THU
3/9   12pm   4 -  8   SW 216    4.8    15.2   12 - 16  NNE  21
3/9    6pm   4 -  8   SW 214    4.7    14.6   10 - 14  ENE  74

3/10   6am   4 -  8   SW 216    4.8    14.3   14 - 20  ENE  51 FRI
3/10  12pm   3 -  7   SW 216    4.4    14.2    0 -  1   SE 142
3/10   6pm   3 -  6   SW 216    4.1    13.7    8 - 11  SSW 194

3/11   6am   3 -  7   SW 217    4.5    13.5   13 - 18  ENE  51 SAT
3/11  12pm   4 -  8  SSW 194    4.3    17.5    4 -  5   SW 210
3/11   6pm   4 -  8  SSW 196    4.1    16.4    6 -  8    S 182

3/12   6am   3 -  7  SSW 199    3.9    15.3    8 - 11   NE  43 SUN
3/12  12pm   3 -  6  SSW 200    4.0    14.6    8 - 11    W 261
3/12   6pm   3 -  6  SSW 201    3.9    14.3    3 -  5  SSW 206

3/13   6am   4 -  8   SW 219    3.8    17.8    6 -  8   NE  36 MON
3/13  12pm   4 -  8   SW 218    3.8    17.6    7 -  9  WSW 259
3/13   6pm   3 -  7   SW 218    3.8    16.7    2 -  3  SSW 203

3/14  12am   3 -  7   SW 218    3.8    16.5    2 -  3   SE 136 TUE

CRNW 2017-0306 (Mon) Forecast & Report

The wind died down from the last two days, still some strong gusts blowing off-shore/sideshore but mostly straight out or a little from the south which meant we could catch and ride waves without spray in your face. Most wave faces were running 3 to 4 ft., some of the peaks were 5 or 6 ft. We surfed The Wash takeoff zone. Not many waves were repeat style, but had a fair amount of variation. Lots of fun and good rides were had.

  Model Cycle: 2017 MAR 06 06Z          
  Time Zone: GMT - 6 hours              
-------------------------------------------------------------
             SURF    SURF DIR   SEAS  PERIOD   WIND    WND/DIR
             (ft)       (deg)   (ft)   (sec)   (kts)     (deg)
            -------  --------  -----  ------  -------  -------
3/6    6am   3 -  7  SSW 201    4.5    13.6   14 - 19   NE  47
3/6   12pm   3 -  6  SSW 197    4.2    13.5    3 -  5  ENE  66
3/6    6pm   2 -  5  SSW 194    3.7    13.3    3 -  4  SSE 166
 
3/7    6am   3 -  7  SSW 193    4.5    12.9   15 - 21  ENE  54
3/7   12pm   3 -  6  SSW 192    4.0    12.7    3 -  4  ENE  68
3/7    6pm   2 -  5  SSW 193    3.7    12.5    8 - 12  SSW 197
 
3/8    6am   3 -  6  SSW 196    4.6    12.3   16 - 21   NE  46
3/8   12pm   4 -  8   SW 211    4.5    16.4   12 - 16  NNE  20
3/8    6pm   4 -  9   SW 214    4.8    16.3   16 - 22  ENE  55
 
3/9    6am   4 -  9   SW 214    5.2    15.3   16 - 22   NE  43
3/9   12pm   4 -  8   SW 216    4.9    15.2   10 - 14  NNE  26
3/9    6pm   4 -  8   SW 214    4.8    14.6   14 - 19  ENE  52
 
3/10   6am   4 -  8   SW 216    5.2    14.3   17 - 23  ENE  54
3/10  12pm   3 -  7   SW 216    4.5    14.2    2 -  3  ESE 102
3/10   6pm   3 -  6   SW 216    4.2    13.7   10 - 13  SSW 203
 
3/11   6am   3 -  6   SW 217    4.2    13.5   13 - 18   NE  48
3/11  12pm   4 -  8  SSW 194    4.0    17.6    7 - 10   SW 214
3/11   6pm   3 -  7  SSW 196    3.9    16.5    6 -  8  SSE 168
 
3/12   6am   3 -  6  SSW 199    3.7    15.3    7 - 10  NNE  29
3/12  12pm   3 -  6  SSW 200    3.8    14.6    7 -  9    W 271
3/12   6pm   3 -  6  SSW 201    3.9    14.3    3 -  4   SW 215
 
3/13  12am   3 -  6  SSW 201    3.8    13.8    4 -  5  SSE 158

CRNW 2017-0305 (Sun) Forecast & Report

We were kind of dragging this morning, beat up from travel, wind, beers and sangria from the night before... were aching for coffee, watching the waves and "tending to business." Around 8am or so we enjoyed our first breakfast. An hour or so later we moved to our new room (#9) where the Internet is good enough to access gmail and such. Now we are settled in :)

We will try to get a late afternoon session if the wind is cooperative but according to the forecast below it won't begin weakening until tomorrow. Imagine we can't resist getting wet.

The tides conspired against us so we did not have an afternoon session.

  Model Cycle: 2017 MAR 05 06Z          
  Time Zone: GMT - 6 hours              
-------------------------------------------------------------
             SURF    SURF DIR   SEAS  PERIOD   WIND    WND/DIR
             (ft)       (deg)   (ft)   (sec)   (kts)     (deg)
            -------  --------  -----  ------  -------  -------
3/5    6am   5 - 11  SSW 198    6.1    15.2   18 - 25  ENE  56
3/5   12pm   4 -  8  SSW 202    4.9    14.6   10 - 13   NE  39
3/5    6pm   3 -  7  SSW 200    4.6    14.3   17 - 23  ENE  56
 
3/6    6am   3 -  7  SSW 201    4.7    13.6   13 - 18  ENE  59
3/6   12pm   3 -  6  SSW 197    4.2    13.5    5 -  7   NE  47
3/6    6pm   2 -  5  SSW 194    3.7    13.3    9 - 12  ENE  61
 
3/7    6am   3 -  7  SSW 193    4.6    12.9   16 - 21  ENE  51
3/7   12pm   3 -  6  SSW 192    4.1    12.7    3 -  4   NE  48
3/7    6pm   2 -  5  SSW 193    3.7    12.5    6 -  9    S 185
 
3/8    6am   3 -  7  SSW 196    5.0    12.3   17 - 23   NE  49
3/8   12pm   4 -  8   SW 211    4.5    16.4   10 - 14  NNE  29
3/8    6pm   4 -  8   SW 214    4.4    16.3   13 - 17  ENE  61
 
3/9    6am   4 -  9   SW 214    5.2    15.3   16 - 22   NE  45
3/9   12pm   4 -  9   SW 216    5.0    15.2   13 - 18   NE  39
3/9    6pm   4 -  8   SW 214    5.0    14.6   15 - 21  ENE  60
 
3/10   6am   4 -  9   SW 216    5.3    14.3   17 - 23  ENE  57
3/10  12pm   3 -  7   SW 216    4.6    14.2    5 -  7  ENE  69
3/10   6pm   3 -  6   SW 216    4.1    13.7    7 - 10    S 184
 
3/11   6am   3 -  7   SW 217    4.4    13.5   13 - 18  ENE  52
3/11  12pm   4 -  8  SSW 195    4.1    17.6    7 -  9  SSW 200
3/11   6pm   3 -  7  SSW 197    4.0    16.4    6 -  8    S 184
 
3/12  12am   3 -  7  SSW 196    3.8    16.1    2 -  3   NE  40

CRNW 2017-0304 (Sat) Forecast & Report

Flight check-in had a long line but it moved well. David was ahead at me with two agents at the counter, one learning or supervising. There were some questions about his board bag with the Xylem and he told him it was a skimboard. There was some more back-and-forth between the agents and the agents and David and finally they said "sign this luggage tag waiver" and he proceeded forth. With the ticket agent along now, he just asked me, "Is this a skimboard, too?" Yes!!

We both had PreCheck, me as normal and David was granted. Last year SWA did not have PreCheck for international flights. This is good now. Went well. Even the Starbucks line was short and went smoothly (during this past year it has been very long).

In CR, our luggage came to the carousel in good time as well as our boards :)  Outside, our transfer man, Ruben, was there with his sign for us. Good guy, we all talked a lot on the trip to the hotel. He was surprised to hear I knew of Juan Luis Guerra, as we were talking salsa and merengue. I told him I also liked the bachata and he went crazy! We are going to buy him breakfast at the German Bakery on the trip back.

Wind has been blowing crazy for about a week people have been telling us and much less wind the prior month. It was macking rather hard... we paddled out and got in about an hour session. Lots of upwelling from the Papagayos so the water was cold in places and really chilled around The Rock. David had a great first session on his new mat, the Uber Cat (his name for the mat is the "Oselvar"). Wind was running extreme offshore/sideshore such as it was In Your Face riding left... flying blind, and as the tide still had a little low in it so we were wary of flying into a submerged rock.

Ron's daughter turned 15, so he put on a quinceañera party for her at the hotel last night. Lots of people, music, festivity. He looked and acted like a true gentleman. It was nice to see Adolpho (brother of Arturo, both who worked at the hotel for decades) at the fiesta and meet his wife.

And, yes, the Bavaria Negra was stocked and cold. Good job, Miguel!

We slept very well!

  Model Cycle: 2017 MAR 04 06Z          
  Time Zone: GMT - 6 hours              
-------------------------------------------------------------
             SURF    SURF DIR   SEAS  PERIOD   WIND    WND/DIR
             (ft)       (deg)   (ft)   (sec)   (kts)     (deg)
            -------  --------  -----  ------  -------  -------
3/4    6am   6 - 12  SSW 203    5.9    17.6   19 - 25   NE  49
3/4   12pm   5 - 11  SSW 206    5.9    16.6   18 - 25  ENE  54
3/4    6pm   5 - 11  SSW 200    6.1    16.3   20 - 27  ENE  54
 
3/5    6am   5 - 10  SSW 198    6.0    15.2   18 - 25  ENE  53
3/5   12pm   4 -  8  SSW 202    4.8    14.6    9 - 13   NE  45
3/5    6pm   3 -  7  SSW 200    4.5    14.3   16 - 22  ENE  56
 
3/6    6am   4 -  8  SSW 201    5.0    13.6   15 - 20  ENE  57
3/6   12pm   3 -  7  SSW 197    4.3    13.5    5 -  7   NE  42
3/6    6pm   2 -  5  SSW 194    3.7    13.3   10 - 14  ENE  59
 
3/7    6am   3 -  7  SSW 193    4.6    12.9   15 - 21  ENE  54
3/7   12pm   3 -  6  SSW 192    4.0    12.7    7 - 10   NE  48
3/7    6pm   2 -  5  SSW 193    3.7    12.5    4 -  6  ESE 101
 
3/8    6am   3 -  6  SSW 196    4.7    12.3   15 - 21   NE  45
3/8   12pm   4 -  8   SW 211    4.5    16.4   11 - 15   NE  39
3/8    6pm   4 -  8   SW 214    4.4    16.3   15 - 20  ENE  62
 
3/9    6am   5 - 11   SW 214    6.0    15.3   19 - 26   NE  46
3/9   12pm   5 - 10   SW 216    5.6    15.2   15 - 20   NE  43
3/9    6pm   5 - 10   SW 214    6.0    14.6   20 - 27  ENE  54
 
3/10   6am   4 -  9   SW 216    5.7    14.3   18 - 24   NE  49
3/10  12pm   4 -  8   SW 216    5.2    14.2   13 - 18   NE  46
3/10   6pm   3 -  7   SW 216    4.5    13.7   13 - 18  ENE  63
 
3/11  12am   4 -  8   SW 216    5.0    13.5   16 - 21  ENE  56