Lighthouse Right Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. Look, I’ll be straight with you – the next couple of weeks are a bit of a write-off for proper surf. There’s a long dry spell ahead, so don’t be in a rush to wax up.

The only spot on the radar is Lighthouse Right (Noumea-Pass). It’s a fairly consistent reef break, intermediate-friendly, and it likes a swell from the WSW. Water temp is sitting at 72°F, which is bang on average for this time of year – nothing weird going on there.

But here’s the kicker: there’s nothing worth paddling out for. The outlook starts with Friday afternoon, 31 July, and it’s already a dud – just 3ft of SSW swell at 14 seconds, but with a cross-on SE breeze at 9 mph and weak energy (290), it’s choppy and messy. Saturday, 1 August, brings a bit more size – 4ft from the SSW, period 12 seconds, and energy jumps to 508 – but it’s onshore, with 22 mph winds and rain showers. Not clean, not fun.

Sunday, 2 August, is a total flatline – zero energy, and fresh cross-onshore winds at 19 mph. That trend sticks. Monday, 3 August, sees a tiny 0.7ft swell with a 23-second period, but energy is weak (82) and cross-shore winds are 19-22 mph. The wave energy is moderate on Tuesday, 4 August, with 4ft at 18 seconds and 1022 on the energy scale, but it’s all cross-shore and lumpy – marginal at best, and the score says it’s poor.

From there, the pattern repeats: small SSW swell, fresh cross-shore winds, and lumpy conditions. The best wind you’ll see is from 7 August onward – cross-offshore breezes, clean faces – but the swell is tiny, peaking at just 3ft on the 7th and dropping to 0.7ft by 9 August. Energy is low (down to 42), and the period is long (19 seconds), which can make for straight, gutless waves at a reef. Not worth the drive.

The gap of genuinely good surf lasts the entire 16-day window. No standouts, no golden windows. If you’re a kite surfer, some of these lumpy, windy days might look interesting, but for a paddle surfer, leave the board at home.

Rusty.

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