Namotu Lefts Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right then, let’s have a look at what’s coming up for Namotu Lefts. This is a reef break that’s fairly consistent, and it’s exposed to the swell. It’s got a real sweet spot for a south-west swell direction, and that’s exactly what we’re seeing in the forecast. The water temperature is sitting at 78°, which is bang on average for this time of year, so nothing unusual there.

The week kicks off with a solid run of groundswell. Saturday the 18th is a bit of a write-off – the swell is small at 3 ft and the wind is a bit messy, so we’ll let that one slide. But come Sunday morning the 19th, things get interesting. We’ve got a 4 ft swell from the SSW, with a long period of 17 seconds, and a light cross-offshore breeze. That’s clean, and the combined swell energy is pumping at 1369. That’s a good sign for a reef break like this, because the long period will wrap in nicely. It’s not huge, but it’s quality.

Now, the standout is Monday morning the 20th. This is the one. The swell jumps to 6 ft, still from the SSW, and the period hits 20 seconds – that’s a very long period groundswell. The combined energy spikes to 2687, which is strong. The wind is a light offshore from the east, keeping it clean. This is proper wave energy. For a reef, that long period is a dream, with plenty of power and those long lulls between sets making it easier to get out the back. It’s a bit over the head for beginners at 6 ft, but for intermediates, this is the pick of the bunch.

Tuesday morning the 21st is also a cracker – 5 ft, 16-second period, and the wind is glassy. That’s a rare treat. The energy is 1413. It’s a more manageable size, so if Monday looks a bit big, Tuesday is your backup.

The middle of the week gets messy. From Wednesday the 22nd through to Saturday the 26th, the wind swings around from the south and south-southeast, blowing fresh and onshore, making it choppy and lumpy. The swell drops and the energy fades. There’s a gap of a few days where it’s really not worth paddling out.

Then, on Wednesday the 29th, we get another window. The swell is back up to 6 ft, but it’s a shorter period of 14 seconds. The wind is a light cross-offshore from the east-southeast, so it’s clean. The combined energy is 1237. It’s a solid option, but it’s for experienced surfers at that size. The following morning, Thursday the 30th, is also good – 5 ft, 12-second period, and again light cross-offshore wind, with the energy at 817. The afternoon goes glassy, which is a lovely way to finish.

The first few days of August look blown out again with strong southerly winds, so the window closes. The best bet is definitely Monday the 20th, with Tuesday the 21st as a close second. Keep an eye on the wind, but for now, that’s the meat of the run.

Rusty.

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