Lefthanders Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s get into it. This is a classic tale of too much of a good thing at first, then a window of true quality.

The big picture: we’ve got a massive, consistent run of south-west groundswell hitting Lefthanders. The problem is, for the first few days, it’s just too darn big. This is a reef break, and when the swell is pumping over 13 feet, it’s a whole different beast. The water’s sitting at 66°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, a nice little bonus.

We’re looking at a solid gap at the start. Monday the 27th and Tuesday the 28th? Forget it. Swell is pushing 12 to 13 feet with a massive combined energy reading (4080 to 4399). That’s a whole lot of power, and it’s just too big for this spot. The wind is mostly cross or cross-off, which is clean, but the size is the dealbreaker.

The real standout, the one you’re waiting for, is Wednesday the 29th. The swell drops to 8 feet in the morning and 7 feet in the afternoon, still a solid south-west groundswell with a period of 13 seconds. That’s proper groundswell, and it’s going to have some serious shape. The wind swings offshore from the NE at 9 mph in the morning, turning light and cross-off in the afternoon. This is where Lefthanders comes alive. The wave energy is still strong (3068 in the morning, 2306 in the afternoon), but it’s in the zone. This is your day for experienced surfers, no question.

Thursday the 30th holds that clean, fun size, with 6 feet swell and offshore winds from the NNE. The combined energy is still a solid 1978 to 2124, so there’s plenty of push. It’s a beautiful, clear day with light winds. This is a close second, but Wednesday is the peak.

Then we hit a rough patch. Friday the 31st to Saturday the 9th of August is a write-off. The swell jumps back up to 12 to 18 feet, and the wind turns nasty, mostly cross-onshore from the NW and S, with some near gale-force gusts. It’s lumpy, messy, and blown out. The energy readings are sky-high, like 12,404 on the 1st of August, but it’s all just raw power with terrible wind. For a beach break, that’s kite-surfing territory, but for a reef like this, it’s just ugly.

There is a glimmer on Tuesday the 5th of August, with a glassy morning and an 12-foot swell from the SW, but it’s still too big for the break. The wind is offshore, but the size is the problem.

The next real chance is a long way off, on Tuesday the 11th of August. The forecast shows a massive 18-foot south-west swell with a 17-second period, and the wind is clean cross-off from the SSE. The combined energy is a staggering 17,547. This is huge, groundswell, but again, it’s likely too big for Lefthanders. That’s a serious, expert-only day if the tide is right, but it’s a long-term call, so keep an eye on it.

So, to sum it up: ignore the first two days. The clear winner is Wednesday the 29th of July. Thursday the 30th is a solid runner-up. After that, you’re waiting over a week, and the next potential window is a very uncertain, very large Tuesday the 11th of August.

Rusty.

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