Papa Tangaroa Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G'day, I'm Rusty. Let's have a look at what's on the cards for Tanga-Roa over the next 16 days.

First up, we've got a solid run of swell coming through, but the early part of the week is a bit of a mixed bag. The standout window is definitely going to be later in the period, so don't get too keen on the first few days.

Starting Monday, September 7th, we've got a decent 7ft SW groundswell (14-second period) rolling in. The combined wave energy is strong at 1876. The wind is a cross-shore breeze from the ESE, which isn't ideal, leaving a bit of a cross-chop on the surface. It's not the cleanest, but there's plenty of power. Tuesday the 8th sees the swell drop a touch to 6ft, still SW, but a stronger cross-shore wind from the E makes it harder to enjoy. The afternoon cleans up a bit with a cross-offshore NE breeze, but the swell is dropping.

Wednesday the 9th and Thursday the 10th are a write-off. The swell is tiny, and the wind is howling – we're talking 25-28 mph strong breezes. It's just not worth paddling out. The water temp is about average for this time of year.

Now, Friday the 11th is where things get interesting. A new pulse of SW groundswell comes through, hitting 10ft in the afternoon with a very long 16-second period and a massive energy reading of 4595. That's a lot of juice. But the wind is a light cross-onshore from the WSW, so it'll be a bit bumpy. This is big, expert-only territory. The morning is also a solid 8ft, but with an onshore wind, it's messy.

Saturday the 12th offers a great window for the more experienced crew. We've got a 8ft SW groundswell (14 seconds) with a strong offshore NNE wind at 19 mph. That's clean, powerful, and heavy. This is a proper session for the chargers. The combined energy is still at 2416, so the ocean is doing work. It's a bit strong for beginners, but for the guys who know what they're doing, it's gold.

Sunday the 13th and Monday the 14th see the swell dropping back to 5-6ft, with the wind shifting around. It's a bit bumpy on Sunday and onshore Monday, so not the best quality.

The real gem of this forecast, the one I'd be circling on the calendar, is the run from Saturday, September 19th, through to Sunday, September 20th. Saturday afternoon sees a 5ft SW groundswell, with a gentle offshore N wind. The conditions are described as "excellent surf conditions for experienced surfers." The waves will be clean, lined up, and with a period of 14 seconds, they'll have some real push. Sunday the 20th is just as good – a 6ft SW swell with a gentle cross-offshore breeze, keeping the surface clean. The wave energy is 1188, which is a solid, surfable amount. This is your best bet for a long, quality session. The reef at Papa Tangaroa is exposed to the S, and this swell is coming from the SW, which is bang on the optimum direction. It's a fairly consistent break, but the crowds are rare, so you might score it with just a few mates.

The last few days drop off a bit, with the swell fading to 3ft by Monday the 21st, though the wind remains clean. A nice little end to the run.

So, overall, don't waste your time on the first week. The standout is the weekend of the 19th and 20th. That's the one to chase.

Rusty.

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