Tandjungs-Rights Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. Look, I’m not gonna lie to you – this 16-day stretch for the Tandjungs-Rights reef is a frustrating one. We’ve got a solid run of swell running the whole time, but the wind is a persistent problem. It’s almost always cross-onshore, and that’s going to keep the surface messy and bumpy. There’s no standout perfect day, but there are a couple of windows where the ocean will have some serious power behind it, so it’s not all bad news.

The forecast kicks off with surf already on the cards. Monday the 3rd of August, we’ve got a clean-looking morning with clear skies, but the wind is up from the SE at 6 mph, putting it cross-on. The swell is a solid 6 ft out of the SSW, with a very long period of 15 seconds. The combined energy is strong, sitting at 1370. That’s real groundswell energy, perfect for this reef. The water temp is a warm 80°, which is about average for this time of year. The big caveat here is that cross-on breeze – it’s light, but it’ll put a little wrinkle on the face. The afternoon gets worse with the wind picking up to 12 mph, so the morning is the only real shot.

The rest of the first week is a write-off for quality. From Tuesday the 4th through to the weekend, the wind is howling from the SE and ESE at 9 to 16 mph, making it choppy and lumpy. The swell hangs around 5 ft to 7 ft, with periods around 14 to 17 seconds, so there’s plenty of push, but it’s a battle. The combined energy is moderate to strong, hitting 2236 on the Thursday and 2941 on the Friday afternoon, which is a lot of water moving, but it’s all ruined by the wind. This is kitesurfing territory, not clean paddling.

Now, the second week starts to get interesting, but it’s still a game of inches. Monday the 10th of August, the morning is still cross-on and messy with 5 ft of S swell at a very long 19 seconds, but the afternoon brings a jump. The wind drops to a gentle 9 mph from the SSE, still cross-on, but the swell jumps to 8 ft from the SSW with an 18-second period. The combined energy goes crazy – 3915 – that’s serious, deep ocean energy. The surface will be a bit bumpy, but on a reef like this, that much power with a long period will produce some heavy, lined-up waves. It’s marginal, but it’s the best we’ll see.

The best bet of the whole outlook, though, is Thursday the 13th of August. The morning has 10 ft of S swell with an 18-second period, and the combined energy is a massive 5584. That’s a lot of water moving. The wind is still cross-on from the ESE at 12 mph, so it’s not glassy, but it’s manageable. The afternoon improves further: the wind drops to 9 mph, and the swell holds at 10 ft from the S with a 17-second period. The energy is still huge at 5425. This is a big, powerful, long-period groundswell hitting the reef. That’s expert territory only – over 8 ft, it’s not for the faint-hearted. The cross-on wind will keep it from being perfect, but the sheer size and period will make for some deep, fast barrels for those who can handle it. This is the standout.

After that, the swell backs off a touch but stays punchy. Friday the 14th is still 8 ft but the wind is back up, and by the weekend of the 15th and 16th, the wind is fresh and strong, making it lumpy and poor. The last couple of days, the 17th and 18th of August, see the swell bounce back up to 6 ft and 8 ft, but the wind remains a stubborn cross-on problem. The waves will be there, but the quality will be a constant battle.

So, to sum it up: the whole period has swell, but the wind is the enemy. Don’t hold your breath for the first week. The real chance is on Thursday the 13th of August, when the size and power are at their peak. It’s not clean, but for those who know the reef, it’ll be worth the drive. After that, it’s a slow fade into choppy, lumpy conditions. Keep an eye on the forecast, but I’d say the 13th is your one to circle.

Rusty.

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