Tandjung-Lefts Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s heading our way.

Straight up, this is a frustrating stretch. Tandjung-Lefts is a reef setup that needs a clean southerly swell to really fire, but for the next week and a half we’re staring at persistent cross-onshore wind. The water temp is sitting at a warm 80°F, which is about average for this time of year, so no surprises there.

The swell energy is actually pumping – we’re talking moderate to very strong wave energy readings (1656 to 3049) – but the wind is the problem. For the first few days, from Sunday the 6th right through the week, we’ve got rain showers and clouds, with moderate to gentle breezes from the SE and SSE. That puts us in cross-onshore or cross conditions, and the surf is described as choppy or with slight cross-chop. That’s not the clean, glassy face you want on a reef.

The best of a messy bunch looks like Tuesday afternoon, the 8th. The swell is 6 ft from the SSW with a long period of 18 seconds, pushing combined wave energy to 3049. The wind is a gentle cross-shore, so there’s only slight cross-chop. For a reef break that likes a south swell, this is the most promising moment in the first week. The crowd factor is “sometimes” at Tandjung-Lefts, so you might share it, but it’s not a zoo.

After that, we’re back into cross-onshore chop through the 9th to the 13th. Swell stays around 6 ft to 8 ft, but the wind just won’t cooperate. A couple of brief windows on Monday afternoon the 14th show an offshore wind from the ESE, but that’s a one-off and the swell is only 6 ft.

Now, looking ahead to the second week – and this is a long-range call, so take it with a pinch of salt – there’s a potential standout. Saturday the 19th and Sunday the 20th. The swell jumps to 8 ft from the SSW, with a period of 16 seconds, and combined wave energy hits 3533 on Saturday afternoon. That’s strong. The wind on Saturday afternoon is a gentle cross-shore, with only slight cross-chop. That’s the best window in the whole 16-day outlook. But 8 ft on a reef is expert territory – not for beginners.

For the rest of the second week, it’s back to cross-onshore and choppy, with swell around 6 ft to 7 ft. Nothing to write home about.

So, the honest call: if you’re an advanced surfer and you can wait until Saturday the 19th, that’s your best bet. Tuesday the 8th is the only decent option in the first week. Otherwise, it’s a long wait for clean conditions. Not ideal, but that’s the hand we’ve been dealt.

Rusty.

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