Right and Left Side Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, this is Rusty. Let's get real about this stretch.

Right and Left Side is a reef break that's meant to be a bit of a secret weapon around here, but honestly, looking at the next month, it's a tough pill to swallow. The water's sitting at a warm 84°F, which is pretty much what you'd expect for this time of year, nothing weird going on there.

The problem is, we're staring down the barrel of a long, flat spell. For the first week and a half, from Monday afternoon the 20th of July right through to the 28th of July, there's just nothing happening. The swell is tiny, with the combined energy barely creeping into double digits – we're talking readings like 44 (weak energy), 28, 27, 26. That's not surf, it's a lake. The wind does offer some nice glassy moments, especially on the 23rd and 24th, but with waves only 1ft from the ENE, it's a total non-event. There's a gap of about 8 days with zero recommendations.

Now, things look a bit more promising but it's a long way out. On Wednesday the 29th of July, the energy finally jumps up to 184 (moderate) with a 2ft swell from the west, but the wind is onshore and it's a messy cross-on situation. The next day, the 30th, the energy drops back down. It's just not clean.

The real tease comes at the start of August. On Saturday the 1st of August, we see a long-period groundswell from the ENE, with a period of 17 seconds, which is proper. The combined energy is 166 (moderate). But the swell is only 1ft, and we've got a strong cross-shore wind of 15 mph. That's a lot of trouble for a tiny wave. This pattern of moderate energy but small, wind-chopped swell continues through the 4th of August. For a reef break, this setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing.

The standout here, if you can call it that, is the morning of the 4th of August. The combined energy hits 298 (moderate to strong) with a 3ft swell from the ENE and a period of 13 seconds. But it's still cross-on wind at 15 mph. It's going to be a lumpy, challenging mess, but for a reef, that long-period groundswell might throw up a few more powerful ones. Just be warned, it's an advanced spot and it's inconsistent, even when there's swell. When it does break, crowds are possible.

To be honest, for the first 8 days, don't even bother. The rest of the window is a waiting game for a proper clean swell to line up with the wind. Forecasts can change, but right now, it's a lean period.

Rusty

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