Namotu Lefts Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, this is Rusty comin' at ya from the heart of the surf.

Alright, listen up. We’ve got a single standout on the menu for the next couple of weeks, and it’s a beauty. The whole forecast is built around this one spot, so let’s get straight into it.

We’re looking at Namotu Lefts, a reef setup that’s exposed and fairly consistent. The water temp is running about average for this time of year, so nothing crazy to report there.

The real action kicks off on Friday, July 31st. First thing in the morning, it’s on. We’ve got a clean 3 ft swell from the SSE, with a period of 11 seconds. The wind is glassy, coming out of the east at just 3 mph. The combined energy is a solid 644, which is moderate, and the conditions are set up for some really good waves. This is your window. The swell direction from the SSW is a perfect match for what this wave wants.

As the afternoon rolls in, the wind swings to a cross-on from the SSE, blowing at 3 mph. The swell bumps up to 5 ft from the SE, but the energy jumps to 802. The texture gets a bit messy, though, so the morning is the clear winner on this day.

Now, Saturday morning, August 1st, is another gem. The wind is a light cross-off from the ESE at 6 mph, keeping things clean. The swell is 3 ft from the SSW, with a long period of 14 seconds. That’s proper groundswell energy, with a combined energy of 544, and it’s going to be offering up some clean, lined-up waves. The afternoon gets choppy and crosses on, so again, it’s all about the early session.

Sunday, August 2nd, the wind starts to howl and the quality drops right off. The swell is still there, but the wind is ruining it. We’ve got a long stretch of poor to marginal conditions from the 2nd through the 5th, with the wind staying strong and cross-shore. The swell stays in the 3 ft to 5 ft range, but the energy climbs to over 1000 on the 3rd (1038). Don’t be fooled, though, it’s messy out there.

Thursday, August 6th, the wind finally backs off a bit. The afternoon session is the highlight here. It’s a cross-off from the east at 9 mph, with a 4 ft SSW swell at 15 seconds. The energy is a solid 1181, and the clean conditions mean it’s excellent for experienced surfers. This is a proper, long-period groundswell.

Friday, August 7th is a classic. The morning is clean with a cross-off from the ENE at 9 mph, and the swell is a manageable 3 ft from the SSW. In the afternoon, it goes glassy, with a 3 ft swell from the SSW. Both sessions are worth a look.

The surf then tails off, with a few smaller, cleaner days on the 8th and 9th, but nothing to write home about. The 10th onwards gets small and choppy. There’s a brief window on Thursday, August 13th, where the afternoon goes glassy, with a 3 ft SSW swell, but it’s tiny. Finally, Saturday, August 15th finishes the run with a glassy 2 ft NW swell, good for a longboard if you’re desperate.

The Standout: If you can only paddle out once, make it Friday, July 31st, first light. That glassy, 3 ft SSW swell at Namotu Lefts is the pick of the entire forecast. The Saturday morning on the 1st is a close second, but the Friday morning has the better wind. Remember, this is a reef, so bring your A-game and watch the tide.

Rusty.

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