Irmas/Leftpoint Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right then, let's have a look at what's on the table for the next couple of weeks. I'm Rusty, and I'll be honest with you, this isn't the most inspiring forecast I've seen. The only spot that's really in the picture is Irmas/Leftpoint, a reef break that's fairly consistent, but it's a real mixed bag of wind and swell.

Alright, let's start with the overall pattern. The next three weeks are going to be a battle of the wind. For the first week and a half, we've got a persistent ENE breeze that's going to be cranking, mostly cross or cross-onshore, and that's going to put a real chop on the surface. It's not looking good for clean, lined-up waves. The water temp is sitting about average for this time of year at 80°, so no surprises there.

The first bit of hope doesn't really show up until Wednesday the 29th of July. The wind swings to a cross-offshore direction from the NNE and N in the morning and afternoon, with a moderate breeze. That's the first time we see a "clean" wind state. The swell is a solid 8 ft from the ENE with a period of 12 seconds, and the combined energy is strong at 1663. That's a proper groundswell with a long period, so it'll have plenty of punch and shape, but it might be a bit straight for the beachies. At Irmas/Leftpoint, being a reef, that long period could be a real treat. The crowd factor is "sometimes", so you might have a few buddies out, but it won't be a circus. The downside is that 8 ft is getting into the "experts only" territory, so if you're not comfortable in that size, give it a miss.

The real standout, the one I'd be circling on the calendar, is the morning of Wednesday the 29th of July. The wind is clean, the swell is 8 ft from the ENE, and the period is 12 seconds. It's the best combination of conditions we'll see in the whole window. The afternoon of the 29th is also decent, with similar size and clean cross-offshore wind, but the period drops to 11 seconds. It's still good, but the morning is the pick.

Before that, we've got a long stretch of poor surf. From Wednesday the 22nd of July right through to Tuesday the 28th of July, it's a write-off. The wind is just too strong and onshore, making a mess of the 2 ft to 6 ft swell. The combined energy is moderate, but it's all chop. There's a brief moment on the 28th with a cross-offshore wind and a 6 ft swell, but it's still lumpy in the afternoon. Thursday the 30th of July sees the wind ease up, with a light onshore breeze and a 5 ft swell, but it's a short period of 8 seconds, so it's not going to have much push.

After the 29th, it goes backward again. The wind cranks back up from the ENE, and the swell gets messy. The first week of August is a similar story of moderate to strong ENE winds and lumpy, cross-shore conditions. The swell is there, from 4 ft to 8 ft, but the wind just ruins it. The long period swells on the 3rd and 4th of August (16 seconds) are a tease, but they're buried under a fresh cross-shore breeze. The combined energy is moderate to strong, but it's a waste.

So, in summary, if you're keen, you've got a two-week wait, but Wednesday the 29th of July is your day. Get up early, paddle out to Irmas/Leftpoint, and hope that long-period groundswell lines up perfectly with the reef. It's a gamble, but it's the only real gamble in the deck.

Rusty.

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