Fare Left Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s take a good, hard look at what’s on the menu for Fare Left over the next couple of weeks.

We’ve got a pretty slow start to the period. The first week is going to feel like we’re just waiting for the ocean to wake up. It’s not until Thursday, August 13th that we finally get something worth paddling out for.

Right now, on Tuesday the 11th and Wednesday the 12th, the wind is absolutely howling from the east at 22 to 25 mph. Sure, it’s offshore, but it’s so strong it’s going to make paddling out a battle and holding your line a mission. The swell is there, around 5 to 7 ft from the S/SSW, but the wave energy is moderate (1669), and the whole thing feels too messy to get excited about.

Finally, a glimmer of hope arrives Thursday morning, August 13th. The wind drops to a moderate offshore breeze from the east at 16 mph, and we get a clean 6 ft SSW groundswell with a solid 14-second period. The energy is still moderate (1251) but the combo of clean, groomed faces and that long-period push should make for some proper shaped waves at this reef. This spot is for advanced surfers only, and with that period, the sets will be a bit more spread out, making the paddle out a little easier between bombs. It's a big date in the diary for the experienced crew. The water is sitting at 80°, which is totally normal for this time of year, nothing unusual there.

Friday morning, August 14th, the swell backs off to 4 ft with a gentle cross-offshore breeze. It’s clean and workable, but the energy is dropping fast (523). Friday afternoon and the weekend are a write-off as the swell drops below 3 ft and the wind goes onshore or cross-shore. Sunday the 16th has a weird little spike of long-period energy (615) from the SSE, but at 2 ft, it’s barely a ripple.

The following week starts to build again. Monday the 17th sees a return of clean, fresh offshore winds from the east and a knee-high to waist-high 4 to 4 ft S/SSE swell. It’s a marginal session, but at least you won’t be getting skunked. The best of the early week is probably Monday afternoon with a 4 ft swell and a bit more energy (634).

Then, around Thursday, August 20th, things start looking serious. The swell jumps to 8 – 8 ft from the SSW, and the energy readings go from strong to very strong (2119 to 2720). This is big, powerful stuff. By Friday the 21st through Sunday the 23rd, we are looking at solid 10 to 12 ft SSW groundswell with periods up to 17 seconds. The wave energy numbers are massive, hitting over 5000. This is expert territory only. These swells are so long-period that at a beach break they might close out, but at a reef like Fare Left with the right offshore angle, the lines could be absolute drainers. The wind is fresh and offshore or cross-offshore, so it’s going to be clean, but you’ll need your big wave board and your bravery.

The real standout, the one you circle in red, is the window from that Thursday the 20th right through to Monday, August 24th. The swell is huge (8 ft to 12 ft), the direction is perfect from the SSW, matching this spot's optimum, the wind stays favorable, and the energy is very strong. That’s the big dance.

As we roll into the final few days, Monday the 24th and Tuesday the 25th, the swell drops back to a more manageable 7 ft, but the light offshores and clean cross-offshore winds on the 24th afternoon look like a glorious end to the run. After that, it fades again to smaller, marginal conditions.

So, bottom line: it’s a flat first few days, a nice little Thursday the 13th session for the advanced guys, then a massive, powerful swell event from August 20th through the 24th that is the clear best on offer. If you can handle it, that’s the week.

Stay stoked.

- Rusty

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