Papa Tangaroa Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what's on the cards for the Tanga-Roa region over the next couple of weeks.

Right off the bat, things are looking a bit grim. There's no surf to speak of for the first few days. Tuesday the 28th and Wednesday the 29th are a write-off with poor, choppy conditions and cross-onshore winds. We'll have to wait until Thursday the 30th for any glimmer of hope.

So, the first real opportunity comes Thursday morning, the 30th of July. We’ve got a 4ft swell from the WSW, and the wind is a light, cross-offshore breeze from the NW. That’s going to clean things right up. The wave energy is moderate, sitting at 961, and the swell period is a solid 12 seconds, which means some decent shape. It’s not big, but for a clean, smaller wave, it’s the best we’ve seen. You’ll want to get on it early, as the afternoon picks up a bit of breeze.

Now, fast forward a bit, and there’s a real standout on the horizon. Sunday, the 9th of August, is looking like the pick of the entire forecast. The morning and afternoon both have excellent conditions for experienced surfers. The swell is a punchy 7ft from the ESE, with a 10-second period. The wind is virtually non-existent, a slight air from the NW, which is a cross-offshore breeze. This will result in glassy, clean conditions. The combined energy is a solid 1862 (moderate), and with that swell direction, it’s a proper groundswell. This is a spot that’s exposed and fairly consistent, so when it lines up like this, it’s a special window. The water temperature is about average for this time of year.

A little earlier, on Sunday the 2nd of August, there’s a bigger 8ft SSW swell on the charts, but it’s coming with a cross-offshore wind and the conditions are described as marginal. The combined energy is a strong 1880, but the wind is a bit fresh. It’s a possibility, but the 9th of August is the one to circle on the calendar.

The second week gets a bit messy. From the 3rd of August onwards, the wind picks up something fierce, with near-gale force onshores. There’s some serious size – 15ft on the 6th and 7th – but it’s going to be blown out and dangerous. The 8th of August is still messy with a cross-onshore chop. The 9th is the clear, clean winner in that stretch.

To wrap it up, the 9th of August is your best bet. Get out there on Papa Tangaroa (Tanga-Roa) for some clean, powerful waves. The wait is worth it.

Rusty.

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