Tandjung-Lefts Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. Gotta be straight with you – this forecast for Tandjung-Lefts is a real heartbreaker. We’re looking at a solid 16-day window, but for the first week and a half, the wind just won’t do us any favours. It’s a rough start, with days of poor conditions stacking up. The water’s sitting at a warm 82°F, which is about average for this time of year, so at least you won’t need a thick wetsuit.

The first real chance of anything surfable doesn’t come until Tuesday, July 14th. Even then, it’s only marginal. The swell bumps up to 6ft from the SSW, with a very long 17-second period, and combined wave energy hitting 2234 – that’s strong energy. But the ESE wind is blowing 12 mph, cross-on, making it choppy. It’s a reef break for advanced surfers only, and with that wind, it’s going to be a messy battle. The SSW swell is coming from the optimum direction, which is a plus, but the wind is just ruining it.

That same pattern holds through Wednesday and Thursday – swell dropping, wind still cranking. The next real standout stretch, if you can call it that, starts on Monday, July 20th. The swell jumps back up to 6ft from the SSW (16-second period, 1916 energy), and then on Tuesday, July 21st, it’s a touch bigger at 6ft with the same period. The wind is still cross-on from the ESE or SE at 12-16 mph, so it’s still choppy, but the wave comment upgrades to “marginal” instead of poor. For a reef that’s fairly exposed to the swell, it’s the best we’ve got, but it’s still a fight.

The breezes lighten up a bit on Thursday, July 23rd, with an ESE wind at 9 mph, but it’s still cross-on. The swell is 4ft, with a long 17-second period, and energy drops to 1106. The best of the best, if you’re desperate, might be Friday, July 24th, and Saturday, July 25th. On Friday, the wind finally drops to a light 6 mph from the SE, cross-on, with swell of 4ft and 15-second period. The wave energy is 879, and the score hits a 2 – the highest of the whole run. Still cross-on, but with light wind it’ll be the least choppy. Saturday, July 25th, offers a similar setup with a bit more size at 5ft and 15-second period, but the wind picks up to 9 mph in the afternoon.

Overall, no part of this forecast is a true standout. The best bet is July 24th and July 25th when the wind is lightest, but it’s still cross-on and only marginal. For a reef break that’s consistent and requires an advanced level, it’s a frustrating watch. The crowds are listed as “sometimes”, so you might have it to yourself, but honestly, the setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing with that persistent cross-on breeze. Stay hopeful – forecasts can change.

Rusty.

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