BEACH & SEA FLOOR GUIDE // Sheltered South CoastAdvanced / Winter Swell Magnet

Cabo Girão · Fajã dos Padres — Reef Mechanics, Channels & Wind Shadow

Whenever a solid West or Southwest winter swell wraps the South Coast, the 580m vertical cliff keeps the lineup 100% glassy.

TAKEOFF CAUTION: STEEP DROP OVER SHALLOW BOTTOM. WATCH YOUR DEPTH ON WIPEOUTS.

Advanced / Winter Swell Magnet · Max 5.5m

Swell: 2m – 4.5m

SWELL WINDOW

W / WSW / SW ou Grande WNW (235° – 295°)

Angle: 235° – 295°

WIND SHADOW & SHELTER

N / NE / NW (580m de Falésia Vertical Bloqueiam Qualquer Vento Norte) (Offshore)

Trade Wind & Orographic Shelter

SUBSTRATE & DEPTH

Large Volcanic Fajã Boulders

Long Right Pointbreak at the Foot of Europe's Highest Sea Cliff

SWELL CAPTURE (BLUE) & WIND SHADOW (EMERALD) COMPASS

Swell: 269° (W) · Wind: 25° (NNE)

HYDROGRAPHIC REFRACTION, TAKEOFF & EXIT CHANNEL PROFILE

Beach & Reef Bottom Profile

Wave Dynamics (Point Break): Long-period groundswell trains (12s+) undergo immediate refraction upon contacting the submarine volcanic shelf, concentrating 3480 kJ of wave energy onto the takeoff bowl while peeling cleanly. The adjacent entry channel drains water smoothly without dragging surfers into the impact zone.

1. GOLDEN ENTRY & EXIT PROTOCOL

Access via the Fajã dos Padres cliff elevator or boat from Câmara de Lobos; exit beside the small stone jetty before high tide.

Max High Tide: {tide}m: 1.65m•Min Low Tide: {tide}m: 0.40m

2. LOCAL WATER HAZARDS