Tankers Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s talk about this 16-day stretch ahead. It’s a bit of a slow burn, to be honest. We’re looking at a long run of marginal, super small surf, and for the first several days, there’s almost nothing worth getting excited about. The energy is there, but the conditions are just off. The real standout action doesn’t show up until the last week of the month, and even then, it’s not firing on all cylinders.

We start off on Thursday, July 16th, with Tankers showing a weak 3ft swell from the west, but it’s cross-shore wind and the surf is just poor. That same story continues right through the weekend and into the start of the following week. The swell direction swings around, but the size stays tiny, mostly between 2ft and 4ft, and the wind is never quite right. The wave energy is moderate, reading around 417, but the whole package is a no-go for a proper paddle. By Friday the 17th, the wind turns slightly cross-offshore and the surf cleans up, but it’s still only 2ft to 3ft, so it’s marginal at best. This carries on through the 20th and 21st, with the swell picking up to 3ft from the south, but the offshore wind is just not clean enough to make it truly fun. The combined energy climbs into the 500 and 600 range, but it’s still not clicking.

You’ll notice a gap of real quality. The mornings are often cross-shore and choppy, and the afternoons, while cleaner, are still too small. It’s a tough run.

Then, around Wednesday, July 22nd, something shifts. The swell jumps to 4ft from the east in the morning, but the cross-shore wind kills it. The afternoon brings a weird spike: a 2ft swell from the SSW with a seriously long period of 23 seconds. That’s a very long period groundswell, and the energy jumps to 1034, which is getting into the strong range. But that super long period can be tricky at a reef break like Tankers – it might wrap in a bit too straight and fat. The wind is fresh cross-shore, so it’s lumpy. Not the best.

The real standout, the one you’ve been waiting for, starts to build on Thursday, July 24th. The morning is still small at 2ft, but the afternoon pumps up to 3ft from the SSW, with a period of 17 seconds, and the wind is cross-offshore and clean. The energy is a solid 1117. This is the best window so far. The morning of July 25th is even better, with a 3ft swell from the south, a 20-second period, and a massive energy reading of 1126. That’s strong. The wind is cross-offshore, so it’s clean. This is your best bet for the first half of the forecast. The water temp is sitting at a warm 80°, which is pretty much average for the time of year, so no need to overthink the wetsuit.

The quality keeps rolling into the morning of Sunday, July 26th, with a 4ft SSW swell, 18-second period, and an energy reading of 1758. That’s very strong energy. The wind is clean. The only caveat is that the swell direction is from the SSW, and Tankers prefers an optimum direction from the south. It’s not a perfect match, but the energy and clean wind will still make it a fun, punchy wave. The next morning, July 27th, is the best of the whole forecast. You’ve got a 4ft swell from the east, a 16-second period, and a combined energy of 1240. The wind is a moderate cross-offshore breeze, keeping it clean. This is the standout. It’s a good size for a reef break, with enough period to give it some shape. The crowds at Tankers are often a problem, so expect company.

After that, the energy drops off fast. By Tuesday, July 28th, the swell plummets to 2ft, and the wind goes light and cross-shore, making it a bit rippled. The last few days of the month and into the 31st are tiny, with swells barely 2ft to 2ft, and the energy is weak. The season is winding down.

So, the two standout sessions are the morning of July 25th and the morning of July 27th. The 27th is the best overall, with the biggest swell, solid energy, and clean wind. The 25th is a close second. The rest of the two weeks is a slog, with a lot of small, marginal surf or poor conditions.

Stay patient, and mark your calendar for the 27th.
Rusty.

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