Tandjung-Lefts Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright crew, Rusty here. Let’s break it down. We’ve got a solid run of groundswell for the reef, but the wind is the real story – and it’s not a good one. The whole 16-day window is plagued by a persistent cross-onshore flow, which is going to keep Tandjung-Lefts choppy and messy. That’s the trade-off for a persistent, long-period SSW groundswell marching in.

The first real swell arrives Sunday morning, 9th August. We’re looking at a clean 7ft swell out of the SSW, with a very long 16-second period. The wave energy is already moderate at 2014 (combined energy). But the wind is a cross-on ESE breeze at 16 mph, so the surface is already choppy. The water temp is a warm 80°, which is about average for this time of year. It’s a frustrating start – the power is there, but the quality is not.

Into Monday the 10th, the swell drops slightly to 6ft in the morning, but the period jumps to 19 seconds. The energy spikes to 3209. Still, that cross-on wind, though lighter at 12 mph, keeps it from being clean. By Monday afternoon, the swell bumps up to 10ft and the energy hits a massive 4753. This is serious groundswell, but again, we’re stuck with a cross-on breeze. The period is 18 seconds, so it’s that long, energy-packed stuff that will be walling up and closing out on the reef. For advanced surfers only, due to the size and the choppy conditions.

The standout window, and the best we’ve got, is Tuesday, 11th August. The swell holds at 10ft from the SSW, with a 16-second period. The combined energy peaks at 5771 in the afternoon – that’s strong to very strong wave energy. The wind is still cross-on from the SSE, but only a gentle 9 mph breeze. It’s still “fairly choppy” but the lighter wind makes it the most manageable of the entire period. This is the pick of the 16 days, but it’s still a battle with the wind. The size is also well into the “experts only” zone.

From Wednesday the 12th onwards, it’s a repeating pattern. The swell ranges from 7ft to 8ft, period stays between 15 and 17 seconds, and the energy stays in the moderate-to-strong range (2000 to 4000). The wind never lets up, always cross-on from the ESE or SE, at 9 to 12 mph. The surf quality is consistently described as marginal or poor. It’s all surfable for an advanced crew, but it’s never going to be clean.

There is a notable gap in quality after the 11th. The conditions just don’t improve. The swell remains solid, but the wind locks in. By the 17th of August, the swell drops to 5ft and the energy fades to 987. That’s a real lull. There’s a brief pulse in energy again around the 19th, with a 8ft swell and 18-second period (energy of 4109), but the wind is back up to 16 mph, making it “poor surf conditions”.

The second week is a grind. The swell stays steady, mostly between 6ft and 8ft, with periods of 15 to 18 seconds, but the cross-on wind is relentless. The 23rd of August offers a slight reprieve with a lighter cross-on wind of 6 mph, but the swell is only 6ft. It’s the best chance for slightly cleaner conditions in the later part of the outlook, but it’s not a standout.

Bottom line: If you’re an experienced surfer who can handle a big, powerful, and choppy left, Tuesday the 11th of August is your best bet. The energy is massive, and the wind is as light as it’s going to get. For everyone else, this is a frustrating stretch of great swell with terrible wind. It’s a kite-surfing setup, not a paddle-surfing one. The reef is exposed, the swell is consistent, but the wind is the enemy.

Rusty.

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