Tandjung-Lefts Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G'day, Rusty here. Look, I've had a good look at the charts for Tandjung-Lefts, and I've gotta be straight with you – it's a tough run ahead. This reef break is a consistent performer, but it's copping a persistent cross-onshore breeze for most of the next two weeks, which is gonna keep things pretty messy. The water temp is about average for this time of year, so nothing unusual there.

The pattern is pretty much the same day after day: solid, long-period SSW groundswell pumping in from the deep south, but that wind just won't play ball. The energy is there, we're talking moderate to strong energy readings (between 852 and 3037), but it's all getting chopped up.

Let's start on Wednesday the 26th of August. We've got a 5ft SSW groundswell with a 14-second period, but the wind is cross-on at 12 mph, making for poor, choppy conditions. That's a zero from me.

Thursday the 27th of August shows a glimmer of hope. The swell drops a touch to 4ft in the morning, still cross-on, but the afternoon gets interesting. The wind backs off to a gentle 9 mph from the SSE, going cross-shore. The swell is a very long 3ft SSW groundswell with a 20-second period, and the energy is cranking at 1647. This is the standout of the entire outlook. The wave period is so long (over 15 seconds) that it's a pure groundswell, giving it incredible shape and power for the size. This is your window – the light, cross-shore wind and long-period swell will groom Tandjung-Lefts into clean, long lines. Just be aware that with a period this long, the sets will be bigger and more spaced out, making for an easier paddle out. It's a reef break, so this kind of swell is perfect. Crowds are possible here, but on this day, it might be worth the gamble.

Friday the 28th of August sees the swell jump up to 8ft in the morning and 8ft in the afternoon from the SSW, with a 16-second period. The energy readings are high (3037 and 2699), but the wind is still cross-on or cross-shore. It's a marginal call because of the chop. This is expert territory at this size.

Saturday the 29th of August is better again in the morning. The swell sits at 6ft from the SSW (15-second period), and we get a light 6 mph cross-shore breeze (1524 energy). That's the closest to glassy we'll get, and it'll be pretty clean. The afternoon gets a bit more wind, so the morning is the go.

Then from Sunday the 30th of August right through to Wednesday the 9th of September, it's a real grind. The wind stays cross-on, mostly from the ESE or SE, between 9 and 16 mph. The swell bounces around from 4ft to 7ft, with periods between 13 and 18 seconds, but the quality is either poor or very marginal. Most of those days are a write-off for a decent surf.

Now, a gap later on. After Saturday the 5th of September, the quality drops away again. On the 10th of September, we see a 7ft SSW swell, but it's cross-on at 16 mph, so that's a no-go.

So to wrap it up, your best bet in this entire 16-day window is Thursday the 27th of August in the afternoon. It’s not a big day, but that long-period groundswell and light cross-shore wind are a rare combo here right now. Saturday the 29th of August morning is a solid back-up. Don't hold your breath for the rest of it – it’s a lot of choppy, wind-affected swell that ain't worth paddling out for. If the wind finally swings offshore, things could change, but as it stands, we're waiting.

Rusty.

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