Lefthanders Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here, let's get stuck into things. The forecast is showing a classic pattern of a long wait for the good stuff. The first few days are a write-off for the kind of waves we want, so we're looking at a big gap until the real action kicks in.

The first real chance for a paddle won't come until Tuesday morning, August 4th. Lefthanders is going to be absolutely cooking with a solid 12ft swell out of the WSW, but that's a problem. The combined wave energy is a massive 7486, and this one is for the big dogs only. The wind is straight onshore, keeping it clean, but it's just too much juice for the average surfer. This is a day for the experienced crew, and even then, you'll be working hard.

The rest of the first week, from Wednesday August 5th through to Sunday August 11th, is a no-go. The swell is consistently huge, over 13ft and hitting 20ft on the Saturday, with energy readings pushing well into five digits. The wind is all over the place, mostly cross-onshore or onshore, and the break is just too exposed. It's going to be a churning, messy beast. Leave it for the kits and the tow-in guys.

After that onslaught, things start to settle down. The swell drops back to a more manageable 12ft on Thursday August 13th, but it's still a bit too big and the wind isn't great. The real standout is the following morning.

Friday, August 14th is where it's at. The early morning session at Lefthanders is the pick of the entire forecast. The swell has dropped to a more human 7ft from the SW, and the energy is a moderate 2410. But the real magic is the wind – it's glassy, with a light offshore from the ENE. The water is sitting at 67°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, so a spring suit should be fine. This is the one to circle on the calendar. The reef will be working perfectly, offering some long, clean lines. It'll be a bit crowded, as it often is when it's good, but for a wave like that, it's worth it.

The following weekend, Saturday 15th and Sunday 16th, the swell ticks back up to 10ft. That's still big, but the wind on Sunday morning is a clean cross-off from the NNE. If you're an expert, it's worth a look, but for most of us, the Friday morning window is the only real game in town.

The final few days of the outlook, Monday 17th and Tuesday 18th, see the swell staying around 8ft to 10ft, but the wind gets messy again. It's not a write-off, but it's not the same quality as that Friday morning glass-off.

So, to sum it up: there's a lot of swell, but most of it is too big and poorly timed. The true standout is the glassy, clean Friday morning the 14th. If you're an experienced surfer, the Tuesday morning the 4th might tempt you, but it's a beast. For everyone else, wait for the 14th. That's the one.

Rusty.

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