The Wharf Lefts Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s coming down the line for this stretch of coast. To be straight with you, the start of this period is a bit of a patience tester. The swell and wind aren’t really talking to each other for a while.

We’re looking at The Wharf Lefts for the whole run. First up, a heads-up: there’s a gap right now. The first hint of anything worth paddling out for doesn’t show up until Wednesday morning, the 15th of July. Before that, from Sunday the 12th through Tuesday the 14th, it’s a write-off. The winds are a stiff cross-off from the ENE at 18 to 19 mph, and while there’s a tiny bit of swell, the conditions are just poor. You’ll mostly be fighting the wind for nothing.

Now, on Wednesday morning the 15th, things start to look a little better. We’ve got a clean, clear sky and the wind drops to a gentler 9 mph from the east, still cross-off. The swell is a modest 2 ft coming from the west, but the period is a long 15 seconds. That’s proper groundswell energy, with a combined energy reading of 363 (moderate). The Wharf Lefts is a reef setup, and that long-period west swell should wrap in nicely, giving it some shape. It’s not going to be big, but it’ll be clean and rideable for an intermediate. Keep in mind, crowds are possible here sometimes. The water temp is sitting at 79°, which is about average for this time of year, nothing weird there.

The Wednesday afternoon session looks a bit more marginal as the wind picks back up to 12 mph. Thursday the 16th holds similar small, clean waves, with the swell sticking around 2 ft from the west and a 14-second period, but the wind is a bit of a factor again.

Friday the 17th shows a slight bump in the morning swell to 3 ft from the SSW, but with a shorter 11-second period and a 16 mph cross-off wind. It’s a bit lumpy but possibly the biggest push of the week. The best call is probably Wednesday morning, the 15th of July. It’s the standout of the first week for its cleanliness and that long-period west swell on a reef.

From Saturday the 18th right through to Monday the 27th of July, the outlook gets pretty grim. The swell hangs in the 2 ft to 2 ft range, mostly from the south or SSW, but the ENE wind stays persistent at 12 to 19 mph. It’s almost all stamped as poor surf conditions with moderate to fresh cross-off breeze. Saturday the 26th of July has a bit of energy spike from a strange east direction with 414 (moderate to strong) combined energy, but with those onshore cross-off winds, it’s not going to be a fun paddle. The second week really doesn’t offer a clear window. The consistent ENE wind just kills the quality on this exposed reef.

So, to sum it up: if you’re keen, circle Wednesday the 15th of July morning. That’s your best chance for a clean, long-period wave. The rest of the 16 days is mostly a case of watching the horizon and waiting for a better forecast. It won’t stay poor forever, but this run is a long one.

Rusty.

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