Tandjung-Lefts Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s get this in feet and miles per hour for you.

We’re looking at Tandjung-Lefts, a classic reef break that’s going to get some serious juice over the next couple of weeks. The water temp is about average for the season, so you’re good with a standard summer suit. The first week, though, is a total write-off. The wind is hammering from the ESE at 9 to 21 mph, blowing cross-on, and it’s turning the ocean into a mess. The swell is okay, but it’s short-period and choppy.

From Sunday, July 26th, through the week, the surf is poor. The swell is from the SE, with a period of 8 to 9 seconds, and the combined energy is moderate, between 700 and 950 (moderate). The conditions are just lumpy and cross-onshore. The best of a bad bunch is the afternoon of Friday, July 31st, when the wind drops to a gentle 9 mph, and the swell swings to the SSW with a period of 17 seconds. The energy is strong (1184), and the surf is *marginal*, but it’s still fairly choppy. The crowds at Tandjung-Lefts can be a thing sometimes, but with conditions this average, it might be quiet.

The weekend of August 1st and 2nd is a bit better. The swell is still from the SSW, but the period is getting long, 16 to 18 seconds, which is proper groundswell. Wave heights are in the 4 ft to 6 ft range, and the combined energy is strong, hitting 1416 to 1702 (strong). The wind is still cross-on, but it’s a gentle breeze, so the surf is only “fairly choppy” rather than a total mess. These are the best of the first week, but it’s not a standout. It’s a “marginal” call because of the tide and wind.

The real deal, and the only standout, is the period from August 8th to 10th. This is a week away, so keep it in the back of your mind. On Saturday, August 8th, the swell jumps to 7 ft from the SSW with a period of 17 seconds. The energy is very strong (2934). The wind is still cross-on, so it’s not perfect, but the size and power are there. The morning of Sunday, August 9th, it gets even bigger, hitting 10 ft from the SSW with a period of 17 seconds, and the energy is massive (5574). That’s a big, powerful groundswell. For a reef break, that long period (over 15 seconds) is a blessing, as the reef will shape it up nicely. But 10 ft is big, and with the cross-on wind, it’s going to be a challenging, expert-only session. The afternoon of the 9th and the morning of the 10th see the swell easing back to 8 ft to 10 ft, but still with very strong energy (4535 to 5527). The wind is still cross-on, so it’s not the cleanest, but the sheer size and power are the highlight. If you’re an advanced surfer, this is the window.

So, the first week is a bust. The second week of August has some real size and power, but it’s a long-range prospect and the wind is still a problem. The standout is the morning of Sunday, August 9th, for the biggest, most powerful swell of the run, but only for the experts.

Rusty.

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