Right and Left Side Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get into it for this spot.

We’ve got a bit of a slow starter for Right and Left Side, a reef break that’s exposed to the north. This place is inconsistent, so don't expect magic every day. The water temp is about average for the time of year, nothing to write home about in terms of anomalies.

The first real chance to get the board wet comes Friday morning, September 11th. We’re looking at small 2ft easterly swell with a 14-second period—that’s a long-period groundswell, which is good for a reef setup like this. The wind is a clean cross-off from the NE at 9 mph, and the combined energy is moderate (237). It’s clean, but it’s small. Not a standout, but a window to get out there.

Saturday morning, September 12th, is similar: 2ft east swell, 13-second period, and light cross-off winds from the east at 6 mph. Energy is moderate (230). The afternoon is almost a carbon copy. Sunday morning, September 13th, sees a slight bump to 3ft from the ENE, with a 13-second period and light cross-off wind. The real highlight for the early run is Sunday afternoon, though. The wind swings to a light offshore from the ESE at 9 mph, and the swell is 3ft at 12 seconds. The energy is moderate (222), and it’s clean. For an inconsistent break, this is your best bet in the first few days.

Monday and Tuesday, September 14th and 15th, are a mixed bag. The swell picks up to 4ft by Tuesday morning, with a 13-second period and ENE direction. The combined energy jumps to 428 (moderate), and the wind is a light cross-off from the ENE at 3 mph. It’s clean, but it’s a risk t-storm day, and the afternoon gets a bit messy with a cross-shore chop.

Things get a bit rowdy from Wednesday, September 16th. The swell hits 4ft and then 5ft, but the wind turns onshore from the WNW, and the quality drops off big time. Thursday through Saturday, September 17th to 19th, the swell climbs to 6ft, but the wind is a fresh cross-shore from the SW, making it lumpy and choppy. The combined energy hits 1104 (strong) on Saturday morning, but with onshore winds, it’s a mess. This is more of a kite-surfing setup than a paddling spot.

The standout, if you’re looking for a bit of power, is Saturday afternoon, September 19th. The swell is 6ft from the NNW, with a 13-second period, and the wind goes cross-off from the SSW at 16 mph. The energy is strong (975), and it’s clean. For Right and Left Side, that’s a decent window. But at 6ft, this is getting into the intermediate to advanced territory.

The last week of the period is a slow fade. Sunday, September 20th, through Wednesday, September 23rd, the swell drops from 5ft back to 4ft, but the wind is mostly cross or cross-on, and the quality is marginal at best. The combined energy also drops from moderate back to weak. By Friday, September 25th, we’re down to 3ft from the NW, and Saturday, September 26th, is a tiny 2ft NW swell with a short 9-second period and weak energy (67). It’s clean, but it’s barely surfable.

Overall, don’t hold your breath for a long run of good waves. There’s a gap of several days of poor quality from Wednesday, September 16th, through the end of the period. The best on offer is Sunday afternoon, September 13th, for the cleanest conditions on a small swell, and Saturday afternoon, September 19th, for the biggest clean swell of the window. Lock in one of those if you want a decent session.

Rusty.

Read more