Lefthanders Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, lads, Rusty here. Gotta level with you – this forecast is a real head-scratcher. We’ve got one spot on the menu, Lefthanders, and it’s a classic reef that usually loves a solid WSW swell. But the problem isn’t a lack of waves; it’s that the ocean is absolutely puking with power. For the next week and a half, the swell is just too damn big for this place to be any fun for a paddle surfer.

The pattern is a relentless pulse of long-period groundswell from the west-southwest. The combined energy readings are eye-watering, regularly hitting four and five-digit numbers (like 4188, 10842, 16896) – that’s strong to very strong energy, a proper freight train of water. The water temp is about average for the time of year, so no surprises there.

Let’s run through it. The first real opportunity shows up on Thursday, July 16th, with a 10-foot swell from the WSW at 14 seconds, but the finder is shouting that it’s too big for the break. Same story Thursday afternoon, Friday, and Saturday – the swell hits 18 feet on Saturday, July 18th, with a 14-second period. That’s a massive, 30-foot-plus face wave. It’s a monster swell, but not for us; it’s going to be a washing machine, and the wind is howling onshore or straight onshore. The setup is more interesting for kite surfers than paddle surfers during that big blow.

The wait continues. Sunday and Monday, still too big. Massive energy (3314, 3169) and no let-up. We get a glimpse of hope on Tuesday, July 21st, with 10-foot from the SW and a nice light ESE cross-offshore breeze – that’s clean. But again, the swell size is just too much for the reef to handle safely or make good waves.

The real first standout is the morning of Friday, July 24th. The swell finally drops to a more manageable 7 feet from the SW at 13 seconds, with a light NE cross-offshore breeze keeping it clean. The combined energy is a moderate 1485. The finder calls it “excellent surf conditions for experienced surfers.” That’s the window. It’s still a bit of a lump for a beginner, but for anyone with a bit of experience, that’s the best session on offer. The glassy Friday afternoon with 6 feet is a close second.

After that, we get a bit of a chop from the wind on Saturday, and then a bunch of poor conditions until the very end of the run. The second standout comes much later, on Tuesday, July 28th. The morning session has a clean 5 feet from the SW at 14 seconds with a gentle offshore breeze from the east. That’s a beautiful, clean, long-period groundswell. The combined energy is a moderate 1483. This is a proper reef wave, and with offshore wind, it’ll be a dream for the experienced crew. The swell direction is a perfect match for the spot’s optimum, so expect some long, lined-up walls.

Be mindful that long-period swells like this (14-15 seconds) can sometimes make beach breaks close out too fast, but at a reef like Lefthanders, it’s pure gold. The crowds are listed as “often” here, so expect company for these good sessions.

The final few days of July show more swell, but it’s back to being too big. The 31st of July has a glassy 15-foot swell from the west with a 14-second period. That’s a massive, dangerous wave for the reef, strictly for the lunatics.

So, mark your calendar for the morning of Friday, July 24th, and the morning of Tuesday, July 28th. Those are your windows. The rest is a washout for paddle surfing, but a hell of a show for spectators.

Rusty.

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