Irmas/Leftpoint Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here, and I’ve gotta be straight with you – the next fortnight is a tough watch for this part of the world. There’s one spot in the mix, Irmas/Leftpoint, and it’s a reef setup that’s fairly consistent, but the wind is just not playing ball for most of the run. We’re looking at a long stretch of messy, cross-shore slop, and the forecast is about as exciting as a flat day.

The water’s sitting at 79°F right now, which is just about bang on average for the time of year, so no worries with a wetsuit.

The first proper surf we can talk about doesn’t show up until Thursday, 26 July. Before that, from Thursday, 16 July right through to Wednesday, 25 July, it’s a solid ten-day gap of nothing worth paddling out for – every session is marked as poor surf conditions, with moderate to strong cross-shore winds ruining any chance of a clean face. The swell is tiny and wonky, mostly under 3ft and coming from the wrong direction, so don’t even bother.

Then, on Thursday, 26 July, things start to get a little interesting, but it’s still a battle. The morning sees a 5ft swell from the east with a 17-second period, which is a proper long-period groundswell. The combined energy is strong, at 2425, but the wind is a fresh cross-shore at 22 mph, making it lumpy. The report says it’s marginal, and I’d only point the more experienced crew at it. The afternoon picks up to 5ft from the same east direction, still 17 seconds, but again the wind is a fresh cross-shore, so it’s messy.

Friday, 27 July, is more of the same: 5ft east swell with a 16-second period, still cross-shore wind at 16 to 19 mph. The energy is strong (2248 to 2252), but the wind is just a killer. It’s marginal, not a day to get excited about.

Now, the standout window is the very end of the run. On Tuesday, 28 July, the swell pumps up to 12ft from the east-northeast, with a 14-second period. That’s big, powerful energy – the combined energy is 4337 to 4271, which is very strong. This is expert-only territory, mate. Anything over 8ft and it’s only for the brave. The wind is a moderate cross-shore, which is better than fresh, but it’s still not clean. The reef at Irmas/Leftpoint will handle that long-period groundswell better than a beach break, but it’s still going to be a heavy, challenging day.

Wednesday, 29 July, is the peak – 13ft from the northeast with a 13-second period. That’s huge. The energy is massive, between 4835 and 4921. The wind is a gentle cross-onshore in the morning (fairly choppy) and a moderate cross-shore in the afternoon, so it’s still a bit messy. This is strictly for the big-wave specialists with a death wish. The crowds are listed as “sometimes,” so expect a few other nutters out there.

After that, Thursday, 30 July, drops to 8ft from the north-northeast, but the period is short at 10 seconds, and the wind picks up again. The energy drops to 1112, and it’s back to poor conditions. Friday, 31 July, has 6ft from the east-northeast, but it’s onshore and lumpy, so no thanks.

So, the real best on offer? If you’re an expert, Tuesday, 28 July, and Wednesday, 29 July, are the only days with real size and power. The 12ft to 13ft swell is a monster, but you’ll be fighting the wind. The long period means better shaped waves, but it’s not going to be a smooth, clean day. For the rest of us, save your energy – the first ten days are a write-off, and the end of the run is only for the brave.

Rusty

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