Tandjung-Lefts Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. Well, I’ve been staring at the charts for Tandjung-Lefts, and to be honest, the next week or so is a bit of a write-off for any decent paddle surfing. We’ve got a solid 16-day window to look at, but there’s a big gap of poor conditions right through until the middle of the month. The first sign of anything half-decent doesn’t pop up until Tuesday the 21st of July, and even then, it’s only marginal. So, let’s break it down.

Right from Saturday the 11th of July, we’re looking at messy, cross-onshore winds from the ESE and SE, blowing at 9 to 15 mph. That’s chopping up any wave potential. The swell is there, yeah, coming from the SSW, but the energy is just getting destroyed by the wind. For instance, Saturday morning has a 5 ft swell, with a solid 14-second period, but the combined swell energy is high at 1289, and it’s described as “poor surf conditions.” That trend keeps the same story all the way through to Friday the 17th of July: lots of moderate breeze, a cross-onshore wind, and a clean surf experience isn’t happening. It’s a long stretch of nothing.

The gap finally starts to close around Tuesday the 22nd of July. We get a shift in the wind. Wednesday the 22nd of July morning looks promising: a light SSW breeze at 3 mph, which is a cross-offshore wind, and the forecast says “expect very good surf conditions.” The swell is 4 ft from the SSW, with a 13-second period, and the combined energy is a moderate 980. This is the first time we get clean waves. The afternoon stays clean too with a 4 ft swell. That Wednesday morning is a stand-out if you can get out.

Then, Thursday the 23rd of July is the absolute gem of this entire outlook. Thursday morning brings a glassy, calm sea – a light SSE breeze at 3 mph – with a 6 ft swell from the SE. The wave comment is “expect very good surf conditions.” Now, that swell has a period of only 8 seconds, so it’s a short-period windswell, but the glassy conditions will make it peel nicely. The combined energy is moderate at 699. That morning is your best bet for the cleanest, most enjoyable surf. The afternoon stays clean too with the same conditions.

Now, a word on the water temperature. For Tandjung-Lefts, we don’t have an exact number in the forecast, but the “derived water temp anomaly label” is blank for all entries, so let’s just say the water temp is about average for this time of year. We’re not dealing with any unusual warmth or chill.

After that Thursday, things fade again. Friday the 24th of July drops back to a 3 ft swell and light cross-onshore winds, taking the shine off. By Saturday the 25th, we’re back to “poor surf conditions” and a tiny 3 ft swell. The run peters out.

So, to sum it up: you’re sitting through a long week of cross-onshore chop until Wednesday the 22nd of July, which brings the first clean waves. But the real standout, the day to circle on the calendar, is Thursday the 23rd of July morning at Tandjung-Lefts. Glassy conditions, a solid 6 ft SE swell – that’s going to be the best paddle sessions of the whole outlook. Keep your eyes peeled for that one.

Rusty.

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