Tankers Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here, let’s break down what’s coming up for the next couple of weeks.

Right now, we’ve got a stormy Sunday the 16th with a messy 10 ft swell from the SSE and strong cross-onshore winds – not worth paddling out. That clears out fast, and from Monday the 17th we’re into a long run of small, clean but marginal surf. Swell drops to around 3-3 ft from the south and southwest, with light to moderate offshore winds from the east-northeast. The period is long, around 13-16 seconds, which gives the waves some shape but not much push. Water temp is 81°, right about average for this time of year.

There’s a solid window mid-week, Thursday the 20th, where it goes glassy – zero wind in the morning, then just a whisper from the SSE. Swell is only 2 ft from the southwest, but with an 18-second period, every little bump will have some juice. If you’re on a longboard or a fish, that’s your window. Combined energy is moderate (413).

The rest of the first week stays small and clean, with wind staying light or offshore. The 22nd (Saturday) also shapes up nicely with glassy conditions again and 3 ft from the SSW, period around 16 seconds. Could be a fun little morning session.

Now, looking further out, things start to build from the east around the 24th-25th. Swell picks up, but it’s short-period windswell for the most part – 8 seconds. That’s not going to make Tankers shine, plus the wind stays cross-offshore and fresh, so it’s clean but lumpy and weak. Combined energy around 386-522.

The standout arrives around Thursday the 27th and Friday the 28th of August. Swell from the east builds to 7 ft on Thursday morning, then 12 ft on Friday morning, period 9-10 seconds. The wind stays cross-offshore from the east-northeast at 15-22 mph. This is big, powerful surf with combined energy over 2000 – that’s a serious push. But with that size (over 8 ft), it’s pretty much for experts only. At a reef break like Tankers, the east wind is offshore, so it’ll be clean and hollow, but the short period means it’ll be a bit sectiony and fast. Not a beginner’s day.

The 29th drops back to 5-5 ft, still clean but fading. After that, it’s back to small southwest groundswell with fresh cross-offshore winds, nothing special.

Best bets: Thursday 20th and Saturday 22nd for small clean glassy fun, or if you’re an experienced surfer, Thursday 27th and Friday 28th for big, clean, powerful waves – but only if you’ve got the skills.

Rusty

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