Lefthanders Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right, let’s have a look at what’s coming up for Lefthanders. This is a reef break that’s very consistent and exposed to the swell, so it’s usually got something going on. But the next 16 days? Well, it’s a wild ride, and honestly, it’s not for the faint of heart.

The water temperature is about average for this time of year, so nothing unusual there.

The first few days are a write-off. Thursday the 6th and Friday the 7th are just messy with rain and strong onshore winds, and the swell is big but ugly. The combined energy is massive—over 9,000 (9180) on Thursday—but the wind is just ruining it. Wait, scratch that, the energy is actually in the four-digit range, so it’s strong, but with a fresh breeze onshore, it’s just lumpy. Poor surf conditions.

Then we get to Saturday the 8th. Now, this is where things get seriously heavy. The swell is 23ft from the SW, with a period of 15 seconds, and the combined energy rockets up to 22,023. That’s immense. The wind is a strong cross-onshore, so it’s messy, but the real issue is the size. This is not for beginners. Over 8ft means experts only, and 23ft is a whole different beast. It’s too big, even for the very consistent Lefthanders. The same goes for Sunday the 9th with 18ft, and Monday the 10th with 23ft again. The wind does ease a little on Sunday, but it’s still a strong cross-onshore. It’s just too much.

The standout window, if you’re a serious charger, is from Thursday the 13th to Friday the 14th. The swell is still big—16ft from the SW on Thursday, and 12ft on Friday—but look at the wind. On Thursday morning, it’s light westerly onshore, but by Friday morning, we get a clean, cross-offshore breeze from the NNE at 9 mph. The combined energy is still high at 6,791, but the wind is clean. That’s a rare window of quality in this run. The wave period is 16 seconds, so it’s a proper groundswell, but at a reef like Lefthanders, that long period is a good thing, giving those long, hollow walls. Crowds are often here, so expect company.

Saturday the 15th and Sunday the 16th drop off a bit. The swell is down to 8ft to 8ft, but the wind is cross-shore, and the energy drops to 2,098. That’s marginal. Not terrible, but not worth the drive.

Then, after a gap of a few days with nothing good, we get another pulse on Monday the 17th. But it’s the same story: 18ft to 20ft swell with a fresh onshore wind. Too big, too messy.

The final days, from the 19th to the 21st, see the swell drop to 8ft to 12ft, but the wind is onshore or cross-onshore, and the energy is weak. Just poor conditions.

So, if you’re an expert and you’ve got the boat or the paddle fitness, the best on offer is Friday the 14th. Clean, cross-offshore wind, a solid 12ft SW groundswell, and a reef that can handle it. Be ready for the crowds. Thursday the 13th is also promising, but the wind is a little more onshore. Everything else is either too big, too windy, or too small to be worth getting wet for.

Rusty

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