Tandjung-Lefts Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s on offer for the next couple of weeks.

Honestly, it’s a rough run for the Tandjung-Lefts. We’re looking at a solid 16-day stretch with no good surf on the cards. The first session that’s even worth a mention doesn’t come until the 28th of July, and even then it’s barely hanging on. The whole period is plagued by moderate to fresh cross-onshore winds, mostly from the ESE or SE, and that’s just trashing the wave face. The swell is coming from the SSW, which is the optimum direction for this reef, but without clean wind, it’s a write-off.

The first few days from the 18th to the 27th are all "poor surf conditions" with scores of zero. Swell sizes bounce around between 2 ft and 7 ft, but the wind is always on it. The combined swell energy is moderate to strong, with values like 824 on the 18th morning and peaking at 2237 on the 20th morning, but it means nothing when it’s cross-on and choppy.

On the 25th of July, Saturday morning, we get a brief moment of onshore wind, but it’s still a moderate breeze from the ESE at 15 mph, so it’s not clean. The swell is 4 ft from the SSW with a long 15-second period, giving a moderate energy of 1094, but the wind kills it.

The first hint of anything surfable lands on the 28th of July, Tuesday. The morning is still poor, but the afternoon session gets a score of 1 out of 10, described as "marginal surf forecast or questionable tide conditions." Swell is 5 ft from the SSW at a 17-second period, with a strong energy of 1545. The wind is SE 12 mph, cross-on, so it’s still choppy, but at least it’s not a total washout.

The 29th of July, Wednesday morning, has light onshore wind from the ESE at 9 mph with 5 ft SSW swell at a 16-second period, but the energy is still strong at 1236. The wind is lighter, but it’s onshore, and the surf report still says "poor surf conditions."

The run continues with poor conditions until the 31st of July, Friday. That afternoon we get another marginal call: 7 ft from the SSW at a 17-second period, energy at 2180, but the wind is still cross-on from the ESE at 12 mph. The 1st and 2nd of August are also marginal, with solid swell – 6 ft to 7 ft – but the same story with the wind.

For a spot that’s a reef break for advanced surfers, the lack of offshore wind is a killer. The water temperature is about average for the time of year here. The crowds are listed as "sometimes," so when it’s good, you might have company, but that’s not the issue right now. The break is consistent and fairly exposed, but it’s not getting the right wind.

The best bet in this whole window is the 28th of July afternoon, purely because it’s the first time the score isn’t zero. But it’s a long way off, and the forecast is less certain. The swell is 5 ft from the SSW, which is a 17-second long-period groundswell, so it’ll have energy and shape, but the cross-on wind will make it a battle. This is a reef, so that long period should give good lines, but you’ll be fighting the chop.

No standout sessions here, folks. Keep the board waxed and check back – the forecasts can change.

Rusty.

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