Tandjung-Lefts Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here, lookin’ at the forecast for a spot we’ve got on the books. It’s a bit of a tough one this time, so let’s get into it.

The only break on the radar is Tandjung-Lefts, a reef set-up that’s advanced territory. Now, the overall pattern is dominated by a steady stream of SSW swell, but the wind is persistent from the ESE and SE, blowin’ cross-on nearly every session. That wind is the killer here – it’s keepin’ the surface choppy and messy for the whole 16-day window. The water temp is about average for this time of year, so no surprises there.

From Sunday, 30th August, right through the first week, it’s a real struggle. We’ve got swell heights between 4 ft and 6 ft, all from the SSW, but the wind is a constant 9 to 12 mph from the ESE or SE, cross-on, and the wave comment is mostly “poor surf conditions.” The combined energy is moderate to strong – for example, on Sunday morning it’s 1013, and by Monday afternoon it’s 1482, but it doesn’t matter if the wind has it chopped out. The periods are long, 13 to 18 seconds, so it’s proper groundswell, but at a reef break with cross-on wind, that just means it’s a washing machine. The only sessions that sneak into a “marginal” rating are a few afternoon slots early in September, like Wednesday, 2nd September afternoon, with 6 ft of SSW swell and 16 seconds of period, but the wind is still 12 mph cross-on, so it’s only a “marginal” call. Not worth paddlin’ out for.

The second week doesn’t offer much relief. From Thursday, 3rd September, through to the end of the window on the 14th, the swell sticks around – 4 ft to 8 ft, all SSW, with periods still long (14 to 18 seconds). The combined energy is strong, hitting 2810 on Wednesday, 9th September morning with 8 ft of swell, but the wind is relentless: cross-on, 9 to 12 mph. The wave comments stay “poor” or “marginal” at best. The best looking session of the whole 16 days is probably Monday, 7th September morning, when the wind is a lighter 9 mph from the SSE, cross-shore, with a 7 ft SSW swell, 14-second period, and a combined energy of 1627. It’s a “marginal” call, but that’s as clean as it gets. Still, it’s a cross-shore, not offshore, and the reef is exposed to that wind, so it’s gonna be lumpy.

There’s no standout here. The closest thing to a highlight is that Monday morning, 7th September, but even then, it’s only a “marginal” session. The wind never backs off into a true offshore (W) like the optimum, so the waves are never clean. For a reef break, that’s a dealbreaker. The surf is too big for beginners on the 1st and 9th of September, with 6 ft and 8 ft, but it’s still too messy for anyone to enjoy. Honestly, this setup looks more interesting for a kite surfer than a paddle surfer, with that steady cross-on wind and decent swell.

If you’re desperate, keep an eye on that Monday morning, 7th September, for a sloppy but rideable wave. Otherwise, the whole 16 days is a write-off.

Rusty.

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