Tankers Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let me tell you straight up – we've got a bit of a mixed bag coming our way at Tankers. Water temp is sitting at about 81°, which is pretty normal for this time of year, so no surprises there. The issue is, for the start of this run, it’s looking rough.

We kick off on Wednesday afternoon, 2nd of September, with some waist-high, 3ft south swell, but it’s getting hammered by a fresh wind from the ENE. It’s cross-off, so it’s not straight onshore, but it’s still messy. The wave energy is moderate at best (531). Honestly, it's a bit of a write-off.

Thursday and Friday look like a washout with marginal conditions and even worse vibe from the wind. The swell jumps to 6ft on Thursday morning, but the period is a short 7 seconds and the wind is still nasty. We get a bit more size on Saturday morning the 5th – 7ft from the east with a 14-second period, which is a proper groundswell. The energy is strong (2421), but the wind is still a fresh cross-off. It’s getting close to that 8ft mark though, so maybe leave the foamie at home if you're a beginner.

Sunday and Monday, 6th and 7th of September, hold similar size (6ft to 7ft) and clean faces, but the wind is still in the 15-19 mph range. On Monday afternoon the wind goes straight cross and that swell jumps to 8ft – getting into expert territory for sure. The energy is very strong (3043), but the conditions are lumpy.

Then we hit a real slump. Tuesday 8th brings a massive 20ft swell with a full onshore gale from the south at 28 mph. That’s pure chaos, dangerous, and unsurfable. The energy is a massive 11864, but you’d be a fool to paddle out. That turns into a few days of nothing good, with swell dropping below 3ft and fading energy.

But hold on, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. After a long gap of poor conditions, we finally get some redemption. Mark your calendars for Tuesday afternoon the 15th of September. We get a clean 3ft swell from the southwest, a very long 21-second period, and light, glassy ENE cross-off winds. The energy is moderate (675). This is the best of the whole outlook. For a reef break like Tankers, that long period will draw beautiful lines. It might be a touch inconsistent with that gap between sets, but the quality is there.

Wednesday the 16th holds a little follow-up at 4ft from the SSW, still with clean conditions and a moderate 18-second period. That’s a solid secondary session.

So, for the whole 16-day run, don't bother paddling out until the second week. The standout is that Tuesday the 15th session – clean, glassy, and long-period. Just keep an eye on the crowds, because Tankers can get busy, and this might just draw a few.

This is Rusty, signing off.

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