Tandjung-Lefts Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, folks, Rusty here. Let’s break down what’s happening for the next couple of weeks.

First off, I’m not gonna sugarcoat it—the surf is pretty average. The only spot in the mix is Tandjung-Lefts, a proper advanced reef break that likes a south swell. The wind is gonna be a pain for most of this outlook, blowing cross-on or cross-shore from the ESE or SE, keeping things choppy and messy. The water is 80°, which is about normal for this time of year.

We start on Saturday, August 1st, with a small 5 ft SSW swell running at a long 16 seconds. The combined energy is moderate (1283), but the wind is cross-on at 9 mph, so it’s pretty choppy. It’s surfable if you’re keen, but nothing special. The afternoon sees a little more size at 5 ft, but the wind stays onshore, and the conditions are still average.

Sunday, August 2nd, bumps up a touch with 6 ft SSW swell, but the wind is still cross-on at 9 to 12 mph, making it choppy. The energy is climbing (1978), but the quality isn’t there. Monday and Tuesday, August 3rd and 4th, hold around 5 ft to 6 ft, with the same cross-on breeze. It’s all pretty marginal.

From Wednesday, August 5th, through to August 10th, the swell stays between 5 ft and 7 ft, but the wind is relentless from the SE or ESE at 9 to 16 mph. The energy gets up as high as 2532, but the wave comment is consistently “poor” or “marginal.” The cross-on wind just ruins the face. This stretch is a write-off for quality surfing.

Now, here’s where it gets interesting. On Tuesday, August 11th, we see a jump in size to 10 ft from the SSW, with a very long period of 18 seconds. The combined energy hits a massive 5896, which is strong. The wind finally swings to a cross-shore, and the conditions are described as “gentle cross-shore with slight cross-chop.” This is the standout of the whole outlook. 10 ft with that long period is a serious groundswell, and it’ll be dredging on that reef. This is for experts only—over 8 ft is no joke. The longer period means better shaped waves, but it can also make the reef section a bit more tricky. The crowds are rated “sometimes” here, so you might have some company. The afternoon of the 11th is even better, with a 4 out of 10 score, and the wind staying cross-shore. This is the best on offer, period.

The swell drops back quickly after that. Wednesday, August 12th, is still decent at 8 ft, but the wind goes back to cross-on, and the energy drops. By Thursday, August 13th, we’re down to 4 ft to 5 ft. Friday, August 14th, sees a long-period 21-second swell at 4 ft, which is a little odd—long period but small. The energy is moderate (1750), and the wind is light cross-on, so it might be clean enough for a few.

The final weekend, August 15th and 16th, brings back 7 ft to 7 ft SSW swell, but the wind is back to cross-on, and the conditions are only marginal. It’s a bit of a letdown after that big Tuesday.

So, the real highlight is clearly Tuesday, August 11th, at Tandjung-Lefts. If you’re an experienced surfer, that’s the day to be out. The rest of the period is a grind with the wind.

Rusty.

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