Lefthanders Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s coming down the pipe for Lefthanders. This is a tricky one. We’ve got a serious amount of swell on the way, but for the most part, it’s going to be way too much of a good thing.

We kick off this Saturday, July 11th. The ocean is already fired up with a solid 12 ft swell pushing in from the SW, with a long 13-second period. The water is sitting at 67°F, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year. The combined energy is pumping hard at 3732. However, even with a favourable cross wind, this is already too big for the break. This trend continues hard into Sunday the 12th with a 10 ft to 8 ft SW swell, but it’s getting chopped up by onshore winds.

Monday the 13th and Tuesday the 14th hold the best chance you’ll get all week. The swell is still massive, reading 13 ft and then 10 ft from the SW, but a window of clean conditions opens up. On Tuesday morning the 14th, we see a NE 6 mph cross-offshore breeze and crystal clear skies. The water will be clean, but at 10 ft with a 15-second period (combined energy 4251), this is an expert-only zone. If you are a pro, Tuesday morning is your slot. That afternoon holds with NNE 3 mph winds and glassy conditions. Still too big for anyone but the best.

Then the wheels fall off. From Wednesday the 15th right through to Saturday the 25th, it’s a mess. We get a prolonged run of strong to fresh onshore winds, rain, and lumpy, choppy conditions. The swell stays in the 8 ft to 12 ft range, but it’s all junk. The winds will be howling from the N and NW at 16 to 25 mph, making it a total write-off for a paddle surfer. Honestly, some of those days with that much wind and that much swell would be far more interesting for the kite crew.

Now, there are a couple of interesting standouts way down the line. Keep an eye on Sunday the 19th of July. That morning we’ve got a 13 ft SW groundswell (16-second period, energy at 5338) but with glassy conditions. It’s still too big, but if the tide and wind are spot on, a few big-wave chargers might find something. The same goes for Monday the 20th of July afternoon, with 12 ft SSW swell, glassy conditions, and a 12-second period.

And for the one true standout, the pick of the entire run is hard to call because it’s all too big. But for the sheer raw power and the chance of a lifetime wave for someone with the balls and the watercraft to handle it, I’d point to Sunday the 19th of July morning. The water will be glassy, the energy is there (5338), and while it’s an over-13 ft monster, the combination of a long-period groundswell and light winds is the best we’re going to see. It’s a point break, so it should handle the size better than a beach. Just expect the crowds to be inevitable, and know that you’d better be on your game.

So, summary: If you’re not an expert, stay out of the water for the entire first week and a half. The second week offers a tiny window for the big-wave specialists, with Sunday the 19th being the day to circle on the calendar as promising but uncertain this far out.

Signing off, Rusty.

Read more