Tandjung-Lefts Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s coming up for Tandjung-Lefts over the next couple of weeks.

Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you – the start of this forecast window is a bit of a letdown. We’ve got some solid SSW groundswell showing up, with a super long period of 17 seconds, pushing 4 ft of swell. The problem is the wind. It’s blowing cross-on from the ESE at 12 mph, and it’s making a mess of things. The water is a warm 81°, which is pretty standard for this time of year, so no surprises there. The combined energy is clocking in strong at 1273, but with the chop, it’s just not worth paddling out for. Friday the 31st is a write-off.

We stay in a similar pattern through the weekend and into the start of next week. Swell ticks up a bit, hitting 5 ft to 6 ft by Saturday and Sunday, but that cross-on wind keeps the surface choppy and the wave quality marginal. The energy is building, hitting 1651 on Saturday afternoon and 1970 on Sunday morning, but the wind is just ruining the potential. This is one of those stretches where you’re better off waiting for the forecasts to change.

Then we hit a bit of a lull. Monday through Wednesday morning the swell holds around 5 ft to 6 ft, but the wind stays stubborn. The conditions are just “marginal” at best, and the energy is still moderate. Nothing to get excited about.

Now, Thursday the 6th of August is where things start to get serious. The swell jumps to 7 ft, and by Friday the 7th, it’s 8 ft to 8 ft with combined energy over 3000. This is pushing into expert territory. The wind is still cross-on from the ESE at 12-16 mph, so it’s going to be choppy and powerful. This setup is more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing. The period is still a solid 16 seconds, so there’s plenty of energy, but the wind is the enemy here.

The real standout, the best on offer, is looking like Friday the 14th of August. We’ve got a 10 ft SSW groundswell with a 16-second period, and the wind finally drops to a light breeze from the SSE at 6 mph. For the morning, it’s a cross-shore wind, leaving just small ripples on the surface. The combined energy is a massive 4600. This is a rare window of clean, powerful, long-period swell at a reef break. It’s an advanced wave, no doubt, and it can get crowded here, so plan for that. The 14th morning is the one to circle on the calendar. The afternoon stays clean but the swell drops a bit to 8 ft.

After that, the weekend of the 15th still has decent 7 ft swell with lighter cross-shore winds, but the energy and quality take a slight step back. It’s much better than the early part of the run, but the 14th morning is the clear winner.

So, to sum it up: the first week is a battle with the wind. The second week brings the size and power, and one morning in particular looks like a gem. Keep your eyes on Friday the 14th.

Rusty.

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