Irmas/Leftpoint Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get into it.

First off, I’ve gotta be straight with you – the outlook for Irmas/Leftpoint over the next 16 days is a bit of a tough one. We’re looking at a long stretch of poor conditions, with the first proper glimmer of hope not showing up until late in the game. The combined swell energy is moderate to strong (between 136 and 1051), but the wind is the real villain here.

From the start, Wednesday 15 July through to the end of July, it’s mostly cross or cross-onshore winds, building up from a gentle breeze to a fresh breeze, and even stronger at times. The surf is small and choppy, and the swell is coming from directions that don’t suit this spot. The optimum swell direction for Irmas/Leftpoint is ESE, but we’re seeing everything from ENE to SSW, so the waves are messy and energy is wasted. The period is all over the place – short 6-8 second slop, and then some longer 16-24 second groundswells that are too long and straight for this reef, leading to poor shape.

We’ve got a massive gap of no good surf. The first real sign of life doesn’t come until Saturday 25 July, and even then it’s only “marginal”. The water temperature is about average for this time of year, so no wetsuit drama, but that’s about the only good news.

Let’s break it down a bit. The early days, from 15 July to 24 July, are a write-off. The wind is consistently cross or cross-onshore, the swell is weak, and the combined energy often sits around 136-492, which is moderate energy but completely wasted. It’s just lumpy, choppy, and not worth paddling out for.

Now, Saturday 25 July finally gives us a bit of a look. The morning has some clouds, a moderate breeze from the NE (20 km/h), and a swell of 0.9m from the SSW with a very long 19-second period. The combined energy hits 1022 – that’s strong. But the wind is cross-shore, and the comment says “marginal surf forecast or questionable tide conditions.” It’s not a standout, but it’s the closest we get to a window. The afternoon stays cross-shore with a fresh breeze (30 km/h) and 1.0m SSW swell, but the energy is still strong (1029). If you’re desperate, the morning of the 25th is your best bet, but don’t expect perfection.

The following days, 26 July through 30 July, slip back into poor conditions. The swell is small, the wind is fresh and cross-shore, and the energy stays strong (547-1051) but useless. The swell on Monday 27 July jumps to 2.1m from the ENE, but the period is a short 7 seconds and the wind is cross-onshore – that’s messy, lumpy, and only for experts if anyone’s even out there. It’s a miss.

The call: If you’re chasing anything, the morning of Saturday 25 July is the only window, and it’s a tough, marginal one. The rest of the 16 days are a bust. The reef is exposed, but the wind and swell direction just aren’t lining up. The combined energy is strong, but without the right direction and clean wind, it’s just a washout. Hang tight, the forecasts might change, but right now, it’s not looking good.

Rusty.

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