Overview
Ponta do Sino is a mix of sand and uneven reef that breaks both left and right, and it usually runs bigger than Santa Maria. When swells wrap around the island they break parallel to the sand, which sets up longer rides and an easy walk back up the beach. The trade-off is exposure: it gets blown out often. Watch for currents sweeping the point.
When It Works
The point picks up swell from southwest through north to northeast (SW-N-NE), and southwest (SW) swell is the best match. It works from 0.3 m / 1 ft to 1.8 m / 6 ft. Consistency is a real strength here, since it takes any swell at any time of year, though it still won't be on every single day.
Wind and Tide
Look for north (N) offshore wind to clean it up, and expect it to be blown out when the wind is wrong. It can work through most of the tide, with a rising tide generally the better call.
Local Tips
This one suits intermediate surfers, mainly because of the currents running along the point. The lineup stays fairly quiet, so there's usually room to find your own wave.
