Lefthanders Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, I’m Rusty. So we’re looking at Lefthanders, and honestly, for the better part of the next 16 days, there’s just too much water moving. The ocean’s running hot at about 65°, which is a touch warmer than average for this time of year, so you won’t need a thick suit while you’re watching the bombs come through.

The one true standout comes on Thursday the 10th of September, in the afternoon. Swell drops to 6ft from the WSW with a 14-second period, and the wind goes light from the NE, keeping the surface clean. The combined energy sits at 1563 – moderate. This is the moment for experienced surfers who know this reef. It’s not for beginners, but if you’ve got the chops, this is your cleanest, most manageable session.

Before that, starting Friday the 4th, it’s pure heaving. Friday morning delivers 18ft of SW swell with a 30 km/h cross-on wind – that’s poor, lumpy, and a combined energy of 9177. Friday afternoon is 16ft, still way too big, with a WSW cross-on. Saturday through Wednesday the 9th stays in the 10ft to 15ft range, with clean offshore or cross-off winds from the SSE and SE on some days – the combined energy hits up to 17162 on Sunday afternoon – but at those sizes with a 13-17 second period, it’s only for the gnarliest crew. The long period means the waves barrel hard on the reef, but at 10ft-plus, it’s a ledge.

After the Thursday the 10th highlight, Friday the 11th has 6ft to 8ft from the WSW with a very long 20-second period. The light cross-shore keeps it rideable, but that long period means big gaps between sets and the wave can straighten out. Still, experienced surfers can find a wave.

Saturday the 12th goes sour with strong cross-on winds around 45 km/h and 6ft to 8ft of messy swell. Sunday the 13th is 18ft again from the west with gale-force winds – blown out. Monday and Tuesday the 14th and 15th have 10ft to 20ft of WSW swell. Tuesday morning is glassy, but at 12ft, it’s still only for experts. Wednesday the 16th eases to 5ft to 7ft with clean cross-off breezes, but the energy is weak (1955), so it’s marginal.

The following week repeats the pattern. Thursday the 17th and Friday the 18th have 12ft of SW swell with clean conditions on Thursday, and a moderate cross-chop on Friday. Saturday the 19th is a write-off with near-gale onshore winds and 10ft to 12ft of messy swell.

Here’s the take: if you’re an experienced surfer who knows Lefthanders, circle Thursday the 10th of September afternoon. The glassy Tuesday the 15th morning is also worth a look if you can handle 12ft. For everyone else, this 16-day window is either too big, too windy, or too marginal. Lefthanders sees crowds “often,” so don’t expect to have it alone. The swell direction from the SW to WSW is dead-on for this break, so when it works, it works well.

Rusty.

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