Tandjung-Lefts Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s take a look at what we’ve got on the cards for this stretch. The only spot with any kind of read on it is Tandjung-Lefts, a reef setup that needs some real love from the elements to show its best. Right now, it’s a waiting game.

The forecast opens on Sunday the 30th of August, and honestly, it’s a rough start. The swell is running around 4 ft from the SSW but with a cross-onshore wind and around 9 to 15 mph, it’s choppy, messy, and not worth paddling out for. The water is sitting at about 81°, which is close to normal for the time of year, so no surprises there. But the energy is high, over 1000 (1011), yet the quality just isn’t there.

Through the rest of August and into the first week of September, this pattern sticks. Monday the 31st sees a bigger period swell – 18 seconds, which is proper groundswell – with height around 4 to 5 ft, but those cross-onshore winds (9-15 mph) keep tearing it up. Wave energy jumps way up (1225 to 1476), but the surface stays choppy. It’s frustrating because the potential is there, but the wind is the enemy. From Tuesday through to the following Monday, the swell builds to 6 ft and even 8 ft by the 6th of September, and the energy numbers get massive – over 2000, even 2482 and 2962 – but the cross-onshore wind never relents. It’s all “poor surf conditions” or just “marginal.” This is a whole week and a half of nearly nothing good for a surfer.

Now, here’s where it gets interesting. Tuesday the 8th of September looks like the first real glimmer. The morning brings 5 ft SSW swell at 18 seconds, but crucially the wind shifts to a light cross-shore (9 mph, then 6 mph). The energy is massive (2879 and 3558), and the description changes to “gentle cross-shore with slight cross-chop” – that’s surfable. It’s still tricky, a solid 7 ft for the afternoon, but the wind is lighter. This is the standout window for the whole run.

Wednesday the 9th of September is the best on offer. Swell pushes 8 ft from the SSW, with a period of 17 seconds – that’s very long period groundswell, which a reef like Tandjung-Lefts can handle beautifully. Energy is a huge 4790, and the wind is light and cross-shore (6-9 mph). That’s about as clean as it gets for this spell. At 8 ft, this is expert territory; not a beginner spot. The cross-shore wind also drops the crowd factor – and remember, this break can get crowded, so the lighter wind might keep the numbers down.

Beyond that, Thursday the 10th still has some decent 7 ft swell but the wind turns cross-onshore again, and the quality drops fast. Friday through to the end of the forecast on the 14th of September is back to choppy, poor conditions with cross-onshore winds and swell dropping below 5 ft. The energy stays high in places (3330 on the 13th), but the wind ruins it.

Overall, it’s a long dry spell, but Wednesday the 9th and Tuesday the 8th offer the only real chance for a good paddle. The rest is better left to the kite surfers.

Rusty.

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