Tankers Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Gotta be straight with you – this 16-day window is a tough one for Tankers. The problem isn't a lack of swell, but the quality of it and the wind. The water temp is sitting at 80°, which is pretty average for this time of year, so nothing strange there.

We kick off on Sunday, July 12th, with a south-west swell pushing 3ft and a long 16-second period. That long period should give the waves some shape, but the ENE wind is blowing a solid 22 mph cross-offshore. It’s clean, but the energy is only moderate (462) and the surf quality is rated poor. You’ll be fighting for nothing.

The whole first week is a bit of a grind. Monday, July 13th, and Tuesday, July 14th, offer similar 2ft to 3ft swells from the west and south-west. The wind backs off a bit, but it’s mostly cross or cross-off. The best of this early run is probably Tuesday morning, July 14th, with a westerly swell at 2ft and a 16-second period, and the wind dropping to a gentle 9 mph cross-shore. The energy is still moderate (613), but it’s a chance to get wet. The rest of the week is a mix of poor surf and marginal conditions as the wind picks up again.

The middle of the outlook gets a bit bigger, but not better. On Saturday, July 18th, we see a jump to 5ft from the east, but with a short, weak period of 8 seconds. That’s basically windswell, and with a 16 mph cross-shore, it’s going to be a lumpy, choppy mess. The energy is moderate (511), but the surf quality is marginal at best. The same goes for Sunday, July 19th, with 5ft from the east and a period of just 7 seconds. That’s not surf, that’s a washing machine.

The second week is a desert. From Monday, July 20th, right through to Sunday, July 26th, it’s all poor surf conditions with small, weak swells from the south. The wind is fresh and consistent from the ENE, keeping the surface clean but the waves tiny and unexciting. The energy stays in the 300-500 range, and the scores are all zeros.

Then, finally, a glimmer. On Monday, July 27th, we get a 3ft east swell with a 15-second period, and the wind looks sweet. Monday morning it’s a light 9 mph cross-shore, but by Monday afternoon it drops to a 6 mph cross-off from the ENE. That's about as glassy as it gets. The energy is moderate (682), and the forecast says "expect very good surf conditions." This is the only standout in the whole 16 days – a fleeting chance for some clean, lined-up waves. It’s a long way off, but it’s something to pencil in.

If you’re desperate for a paddle in the first week, try Tuesday morning, July 14th. Otherwise, wait for that Monday arvo on July 27th. It’s a long wait, but it might just be worth it.

Rusty

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