Tandjung-Lefts Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s cut through the noise and look at what’s coming our way for Tandjung-Lefts over the next couple of weeks.

Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you – the next week and a half is looking pretty average. The wind is a persistent problem, mostly cross-onshore from the SE or ESE, blowing at 9 to 12 mph, which is keeping the surface chopped up. There’s a solid SSW groundswell running through the whole period, but until we get a clean window, the quality just isn’t there.

Thursday the 10th kicks things off with a 6 ft SSW swell, but that 9 mph SE wind is making it messy. The combined wave energy is high (1782), but the "marginal" calls are a dead giveaway. The next few days, right through the weekend and into the following week, are a similar story: consistent swell but poor conditions. The water temperature is a warm 80°, which is bang on average for the time of year, so at least you won’t need a thick wetsuit.

There’s a real gap in quality here. We’re talking about day after day of cross-onshore winds and choppy surf. Even the bigger pulses on Sunday the 13th (6 ft to 6 ft, period 17-18 seconds) don’t save it because the wind is up. This is a reef break, so when it’s firing, it’s incredible, but with this much wind, it’s not holding its shape. The wave energy is through the roof (over 2000 on those days), but it’s wasted energy.

Now, look ahead to Sunday the 20th of September. That’s the standout. We’ve got a 8 ft SSW swell rolling in with a 16-second period. The combined energy jumps to 3285, which is powerful. The wind is only light from the SE at 6 mph, just a light cross-onshore breeze. That’s the best chance we get for a clean, solid session. It’s a bit of a wait, but it’s the real deal. Monday the 21st still has a solid 7 ft swell, but the wind picks back up.

A couple of other dates to keep an eye on: Saturday the 19th in the afternoon has a tiny 3 ft SSW swell, but the wind shifts to a clean cross-shore from the south. That’s a rare glassy window, but the swell is small. And Friday the 25th afternoon has a 4 ft swell with a very long 20-second period, which is a proper groundswell. That’s the kind of energy that wraps around points and reefs beautifully, but with the onshore wind, it’ll be a tricky one.

For the advanced crew, Tandjung-Lefts is an expert reef, and when it’s over 8 ft (like on the 20th and 21st), it’s for experts only. Beginners should steer clear of those days. The crowds are "sometimes" an issue, so on that Sunday the 20th, if the wind stays light, expect a few more cars in the lot.

So, the long and short of it: the first week is a write-off for quality. The best bet is Sunday the 20th of September. Get it while it’s clean. The rest is just waiting.

Rusty.

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