Lefthanders Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what's on the cards for the next couple of weeks.

We've got one spot on the radar, and it's a classic. Lefthanders is a reef break that's exposed to the swell and it's a very consistent wave. It's a beginner-friendly spot, but don't let that fool you, because when it gets big, it gets serious. The first few days are a bit of a write-off, so we'll have to wait for the good stuff.

The forecast kicks off on Friday, July 17th, but it’s a dud. We've got a solid 7ft swell from the WSW at 12 seconds, but it's blown out by a cross-shore wind, making it lumpy. The wave energy is moderate (1566). It's not worth paddling out for. Saturday the 18th is even worse – a massive 18ft swell from the same direction, but with strong onshore winds. That's a full-on storm surf, and the energy is in the very strong bracket (8176). That's a hard pass for anyone. Sunday the 19th sees the swell drop to 12ft, but it's still too big for this break, and the wind is cross-onshore, making it choppy. The energy is strong (4324), but the conditions are poor.

The wait continues through Monday and Tuesday with messy, choppy conditions. The swell is still too big for the break on Tuesday the 21st, with a 10ft SW swell and strong cross-onshore winds. The energy is moderate to strong (3094). It's just not clean.

Things start to look up on Wednesday, July 22nd. The swell is still large at 13ft, and while the wind is cross-offshore, it's creating clean conditions. The energy is strong (5411), but the size is still a bit much for the average punter. It's a good day for the experienced crew only.

Now, Thursday the 23rd is where it starts to get interesting. We've got an 8ft SW swell with a nice 14-second period, and the wind is offshore and light. The energy is strong (2726). The notes say "excellent surf conditions for experienced surfers," and I'd agree. The wave will be a well-shaped, powerful groundswell. The offshore wind is a major positive, so expect clean, peeling lines. This is a standout for the first week.

Friday the 24th is a bit smaller, with a 5ft SW swell, but the wind is light and cross-offshore, keeping it clean. The energy is moderate (1071). It's a good option for the beginner to intermediate crowd, as the size is manageable.

The second week is where the magic really happens. Saturday the 25th and Sunday the 26th of July are both solid. Saturday has a 6ft WSW swell with light cross-offshore winds, and Sunday bumps up to an 8ft SW swell with a very long 15-second period and light, clean winds. The energy on Sunday is strong (3088). These are excellent days, with the longer period meaning the waves will have plenty of power, but the reef setup at Lefthanders will handle it well.

But the absolute standout, the one you want to circle on the calendar, is the stretch from Monday, July 27th through to Thursday, July 30th. The swell is consistently in the 7ft to 8ft range from the SW, with periods of 14 to 20 seconds. The energy is building, going from 2375 up to a massive 4735. The wind is light and offshore, and on Thursday the 30th, it goes glassy. That's a full-on, world-class day. The 20-second period is incredibly long, creating a powerful, deep water groundswell that will wrap perfectly into the reef. This is the best of the entire forecast. Just be aware that with a break this good, crowds are likely, so get there early.

After that, the swell jumps back up to 10ft on Friday, July 31st, and into August 1st, which is too big for the break, with the wind turning cross-shore. The energy is still very strong (5043), but it's a session for the experts only, or for watching from the cliff.

So, the play is clear: the first week is a waiting game, with Thursday the 23rd being the first real highlight. The second week, from the 27th to the 30th, is your window for epic, clean, powerful waves. Don't miss it.

Rusty.

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