Tainohama Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right, grab a coffee, let’s get into it. The next couple of weeks are looking pretty flat for the most part, but there’s a beast of a pulse on the horizon that’s got my attention.

First up, Tainohama is a reef break that’s exposed to the south, and it’s an advanced-only spot. The water temp is sitting about average for the time of year, nothing weird there. But honestly, the first week is a write-off. From Friday the 17th right through to Friday the 24th, we’re looking at tiny dribble – waves barely hitting 1ft, with weak combined swell energy (48 to 83). The wind is all over the place, mostly cross or onshore, and the period is short, under 11 seconds, so there’s just no power. It’s a real bummer.

We finally see a bit of life on Saturday the 25th morning. The swell picks up to 1ft from the SE, with a period of 16 seconds – that’s proper groundswell. The combined energy hits 152 (moderate), and it’s glassy, with an ESE light breeze. It’s the first surfable wave in the whole run, but it’s still very ordinary. That afternoon it gets onshore and messy.

Sunday the 26th morning brings a real step up: 5ft from the SE, period 14 seconds, and combined energy of 956 (strong). But it’s cross-on with a light breeze, so it’s not clean. That afternoon and into Monday the 27th, it gets bigger – 6ft to 6ft – but the wind is onshore, making it a choppy, brown-pants affair. The energy is right up there (1410 to 1377), but the quality is poor. This is big for a reef, and with the wind on it, it’s only for the very experienced.

Now, the standout. Tuesday the 28th is the one. The morning sees a massive 13ft ESE swell at 16 seconds, with combined energy of 7358 (very strong). The wind is a gentle onshore from the SSE, which is a shame, but the size is undeniable. The afternoon is even bigger, 15ft at 16 seconds, energy of 8829. It’s a cross-on breeze, so it’ll be a heavy, bluffing left-hander. This is not for the faint-hearted – this is expert-only, big-wave territory. The period is 16 seconds, so that’s a very long groundswell, which at a reef like Tainohama will hold up beautifully. If you’re a charger, this is the window.

After that, it drops off quickly. Wednesday the 29th back to 2ft and poor, and the final days of the run are all tiny again.

So, to wrap it up: the first week is a total no-go. The second week has a couple of ordinary days, but the absolute standout is Tuesday the 28th of July. The swell is huge, the energy is immense, and it’s a dedicated reef. Just be ready for the crowds – it’s a “sometimes” busy spot, and on a day like that, you’ll be fighting for waves.

Rusty.

Read more