Papa Tangaroa Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right, let's have a look at what's on the cards for Papa Tangaroa (Tanga-Roa). This one's a reef break, exposed to the south swell, so it knows how to handle a bit of energy.

Alright, the opening act here is a bit of a letdown. We've got some small, weak swell coming in on Sunday the 12th, but the wind's got it all chopped up. Not worth getting wet for. The next day, Monday the 13th, now that's more like it. That south-southeast swell is hanging around 6ft, but the real story is the morning. Glassy conditions! The wind is a light westerly offshore at just 3 mph. That's a major positive. The water's sitting at 71°, which is pretty normal for this time of year. The energy is moderate (1273). It's not the biggest, but with that offshore wind and an 11-second period, it's going to be clean, well-shaped, and have some punch. That Monday morning is looking like the standout of the first week, no question.

We have to wade through a lot of junk after that. Tuesday the 14th is blown out with strong winds. Wednesday the 15th has a messy cross-shore wind. Thursday the 16th sees the swell jump up to 7ft, with moderate to strong energy (2394), but the wind is cross-onshore and choppy. For an advanced reef like this, a 7ft swell with onshore wind will be a challenging, bumpy mess. Not the one.

Friday the 17th is poor again. But then, look at Saturday the 18th – the wind turns offshore from the northeast, and we get a clean 4ft swell from the west-southwest. It's a bit smaller, but with clean conditions and moderate energy (595), that's a good option for a fun, relaxed session. There's a bit of a gap over the next couple of days with onshore winds and wonky conditions, but nothing to write home about.

Now, looking further ahead, there's a real promise on the horizon. Around Wednesday the 22nd, the swell picks up again to 6ft from the west-southwest, and the wind is offshore. The energy jumps into the strong territory (2054). That carries through into Thursday the 23rd with a 7ft swell from the southwest and strong energy (2610). This is big for a reef, and definitely for experts only. The long-range call is promising, but it's far enough out that you keep an eye on the charts.

To be honest, for this break, the absolute best on offer is that glassy Monday morning the 13th. It's the perfect combination of good, clean swell and zero wind. The other chance is that clean Saturday the 18th for a quieter session. If you're an expert after a heavy one, mark your calendar for around Wednesday the 22nd, but don't book the day off work just yet.

- Rusty

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