Irmas/Leftpoint Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at the coming days at Irmas/Leftpoint.

Honestly, it’s a tough run for the next couple of weeks. The forecast is giving us a whole lot of messy, blown-out conditions with very little in the way of quality. The first surf that’s even worth a mention doesn’t show up until Thursday morning, the 20th of August, and even then it’s a marginal call.

Thursday, 20th August – Friday, 21st August
Thursday morning brings a small pulse of groundswell from the SSW, with waves around 2ft and a very long period of 18 seconds. That long period will produce some well-shaped lines, but the combined swell energy is still pretty weak (358). The wind is a gentle cross-shore, but the water is clean by the afternoon when the wind turns cross-offshore. It won’t be big, but for a patient surfer on a longboard, there might be a few clean, peeling waves. Thursday afternoon is the pick of this early window. Friday sees the swell flip to a short-period, weak NE windswell (103), and the cross-onshore breeze puts a stop to any hopes. A day to skip.

Saturday, 22nd August – Tuesday, 2nd September
This is where the forecast turns ugly. From Saturday morning, a strong and persistent ENE wind kicks in, blowing at 35-50 km/h (22-31 mph) almost daily. The swell builds from 4ft to over 6ft, and by Sunday the 24th the combined energy is moderate to strong (594 to 856). But with that wind being a strong cross-shore, the wave faces will be lumpy, messy, and full of cross-chop. It’s poor surf for a paddle board. If the wind holds at these speeds, a kite surfer might find this setup more interesting than a traditional surfer. This poor stretch carries on day after day, through the end of August, with the same ENE cross-wind and choppy conditions.

Tuesday, 1st September – The Lone Standout
Now, if you can hold out, there’s a date circled. On the morning of Tuesday, 1st September, something shifts. The combined swell energy jumps big time (2636), and the swell height hits 8ft from the east with a period of 13 seconds – a proper groundswell. But here’s the catch: the wind is still a fresh cross-shore (ENE 30 km/h / 19 mph). The afternoon gets even bigger, with 10ft waves and massive energy (3039). It’s a raw, powerful day, and because it’s over 8ft, this is strictly for experienced surfers only. The long period from the east might find the reef at Irmas and produce some heavy, grinding barrels, but that cross-shore wind will stop it from being perfect. It’s the best the whole fortnight has to offer, but it’s a rough, expert-only session with possible crowds.

After that, Wednesday and Thursday slip back into strong, messy wind and dropping swell. A blank, poor run for most of the month.

Stay patient, and maybe bring the kite gear.

Rusty.

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