Tandjung-Lefts Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s cooking for the next couple of weeks at Tandjung-Lefts.

Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you: this stretch is looking rough. We’ve got a solid run of poor surf conditions that go from today, the 20th of July, all the way through to the 31st of July. That’s a long gap of nearly 12 days with nothing worth getting wet for.

The issue is the wind. For day after day, it’s hammering out of the ESE or SE at 12-15 mph, blowing cross-on shore. That’s a recipe for chop and messy lines. Even though there’s a fair bit of swell in the water – we’re seeing a groundswell from the SSW with periods of 14 to 17 seconds, which is a long period, and the combined energy values are moderate to strong, often in the 700-2000 range – the wind is just ruining it. The swell heights bounce around from 2 ft to 7 ft, but it’s all poor. The water temp is about average for the time of year, nothing unusual there.

The first real flicker of something happens on the 1st of August. The forecast nudges up to a “marginal” rating. The morning of the 1st sees a 5 ft SSW groundswell, period 16 seconds, with a combined energy of 1550. The wind is still from the ESE at 12 mph, cross-on, so it’s not clean, but the energy is there. The afternoon is similar at 6 ft, period 15 seconds, energy 1672. It’s not a standout, but it’s the best we’ve seen in two weeks.

The 2nd of August is a bit of a mixed bag. The morning has the wind shifting to onshore, which is a slight improvement in direction, but it’s still a moderate breeze. The swell is 5 ft from the SSW, period 14 seconds. The afternoon sees a shift to a SW swell at 5 ft, still cross-on. Not great.

Then on the 4th of August, Tuesday morning, we get another marginal call. A 4 ft SSW groundswell, period 15 seconds, combined energy at 1347. The wind is still ESE at 12 mph, cross-on. It’s a long way out, so take this one with a pinch of salt, but it’s the only hint of something potentially rideable in the second week.

Honestly, there’s no single standout session here. The whole period is a write-off for clean, classic surf. The wind is the enemy. If you’re desperate, the 1st of August has the most size and energy, but it’s going to be choppy. For a reef break that’s consistent and exposed, this is a real bummer. The SSE wind is a curse, and it’s not letting up. Keep an eye on the long-range forecasts, because this kind of blank run can’t last forever.

Rusty.

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