Tandjung-Lefts Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G'day, I'm Rusty. Let's cut to the chase. Right now, the outlook for Tandjung-Lefts is a bit of a tough one. The wind is a persistent problem – it's blowing cross-on, which is killing the quality. For the next week and a half, the waves are there, but the wind is just too strong and onshore, making it all choppy and poor. We're looking at a long stretch of less-than-ideal surf through to the end of July. It's not until the very start of August that things start to look a little more promising.

The water is sitting at a warm 81°F, which is bang on average for this time of year.

Let's start with the first few days. Wednesday the 22nd to Saturday the 26th of July, we're seeing head-high sets around 3ft to 4ft, with a south-southwest swell (SSW) and a period of 13-14 seconds. The combined swell energy is moderate. But the wind is a solid 16 mph from the ESE, making it a real battle. It's messy, it's choppy, and it's just not a good time.

Then we hit the end of the month. Sunday the 26th of July sees a spike in size, with swell pushing 8ft and a shorter period of 9 seconds. The combined energy jumps to 1809, which is strong. But the wind is a fresh 19 mph cross-on, making it lumpy and, honestly, a bit of a challenge. This is expert territory size-wise, but the wind is so bad it's more of a washout than a standout.

The rest of the week from July 27th to July 31st is more of the same. Swell sizes bob around 3ft to 5ft, and the wind stays stubbornly cross-on at 12-16 mph. The quality is rated as poor due to the wind. There's a bit of a tease on the 30th of July with a long-period SSW swell (19 seconds), but the cross-on wind ruins it.

Now, the first week of August is where we get a glimmer of hope. From Sunday the 2nd of August through to Thursday the 6th, the wind drops back to a more manageable 6-9 mph. It's still cross-on, but it's a much lighter breeze. The swell is solid, coming in from the SSW at 5ft to 7ft, and the periods are long, in the 14-18 second range. The combined energy is strong, hitting 2499 on the 6th of August. This is the best the window has to offer. It's still not perfect, but it's a lot cleaner. The waves will be bigger, around 7ft on the 6th, which is pushing towards expert territory, but with the lighter wind, the reef at Tandjung-Lefts should start to hold its shape. Keep in mind, with a long period swell like this, the sets will be well-spaced, making the paddle out a bit easier. The crowds are listed as "sometimes", so you might have some company, but it's not a guaranteed circus.

So, what's the verdict? The real standout is the period from August 2nd to August 6th. The swell is solid, the energy is strong, and the lighter wind will make for much cleaner waves. The best of the best looks like Thursday the 6th, with a 7ft SSW swell, a 16-second period, and a light, cross-shore breeze. It's a long-range call, so it's not a lock, but it's the one to circle on the calendar.

Before that, it's a waiting game. The wind is just too messy for a good session. Kite surfers might have a look at the open stretches, but for us paddlers, it's a frustrating run.

Rusty.

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