Papa Tangaroa Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s coming up for Papa Tangaroa (Tanga-Roa). This is an exposed reef break, made for advanced surfers only, and it needs a solid south swell to get going. The forecast shows a lot of waiting, but there are a few windows where this place could be worth a look.

The first week and a half is pretty much a write-off. We’ve got a mix of poor surf conditions and fresh winds, with the swell energy flipping between moderate (1120) and strong (1277) but the wind is just never cooperating. The best we see in the first week is a couple of marginal sessions late on Friday the 21st – a clean morning with 4ft SSW swell, but only 3ft in the afternoon with a fresh offshore N wind. The energy is low (508) and the wave shape is likely to be on the small side. Not a standout.

There’s a long gap of no real quality until Sunday the 23rd. That morning, a light N wind switches offshore, and we get a 6ft west swell with 10-second period, moderate energy (798). The rating says “expect very good surf conditions,” and that light offshore breeze should make for clean, lined-up waves at the reef. That’s the best of the early run – but the afternoon goes to crap with a strong NW breeze, so get in early.

From Monday the 24th, the swell builds big time. We’re talking 13ft WSW swell by the afternoon, energy jumping to 4356 (strong), but the wind is cross-shore and messy. It’s not until Tuesday the 25th that we see a glimmer: 13ft WSW swell, 16-second period, energy roaring at 9522 (very strong). The wind is still cross-shore, but the conditions are described as “marginal surf forecast or questionable tide conditions.” This is big, powerful, groundswell – only for the experienced. The 16-second period will make for long lines and long waits between sets, perfect for a reef like this, but the cross-shore wind will chop it up. It’s a good option for the brave, but not clean.

The rest of the forecast shows more of the same: solid swell (10ft to 13ft) but almost always with cross-onshore or cross-shore winds. The end of the month and into early September sees some improvement. On the 2nd of September, we get a 13ft SSW swell, period 13 seconds, with a light E wind turning to nearly calm (5 km/h from E). Energy is very strong (6081 and 5794) and the wind is light, making for clean conditions. That’s shaping up to be a promising but less certain standout – it’s two weeks out, so keep your fingers crossed.

The water temperature is about average for the time of year, nothing unusual there.

So, for the best of the bunch: Sunday morning the 23rd is your early standout – get in before the wind ruins it. The real standout, if the forecast holds, is the morning of Wednesday the 2nd of September – big, clean, and powerful, but only for the experts. Don’t bother with the rest if you want clean waves.

Rusty.

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