Tankers Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on offer for the next couple of weeks.

Overall, it’s a pretty quiet outlook for the region. We’ve got a long stretch of marginal, small surf ahead, with a few moments where conditions might just line up enough for a paddle. The water temperature is sitting at 80°F which is about average for this time of year, so the wetsuit situation is easy.

The first decent window doesn’t really show up until later in the run. The early days, from Tuesday 14 July right through to the end of the first week, are mostly small, weak, and often plagued by wind. Swell heights are mostly in the 2ft to 3ft range, with moderate combined energy in the 400-500s. The wind is mostly cross-off, which is a positive, but the overall wave quality is just poor. There’s nothing breaking here worth chasing.

We see a slight bump in height on Sunday 19 July, with the swell picking up to 5ft in the morning and 4ft in the afternoon, but the period drops to 8 seconds—that’s short-period wind swell, which is fat and weak. The wind is clean cross-off, but the energy is still moderate at 379 and 420. It’s surfable but not inviting.

The second week is where things get a little more interesting. From Monday 20 July, the swell direction becomes more southerly, and the period starts to climb. By Wednesday 22 July afternoon, we see a jump in period to 24 seconds with a combined energy of 708. That’s very long-period groundswell, but the height is only 2ft. It’s tiny, but those long lines will be clean and glassy. The morning of Thursday 23 July has some clouds, but the wind is light and cross-shore, with a 2ft swell from the SSW at 21 seconds and energy of 692. It’s a classic small, clean, long-period day that’s better for a longboard than a shortboard.

The standout period, however, is the final few days. Saturday 25 July morning has a 3ft SSW swell at 16 seconds, with a combined energy of 734 and a clean cross-off breeze. It’s not huge, but the quality is there. Then Sunday 26 July afternoon sees a 3ft east swell at 16 seconds, with a massive energy jump to 767. The wind is a fresh cross-off, so it’ll be clean and walled up. The best of the bunch looks like Monday 27 July. The morning offers a 4ft east swell at 16 seconds, with a combined energy of 801 and a gentle cross-off breeze. That’s the most energy we see in the whole window, and the conditions are clean. Tuesday 28 July morning also has a 4ft east swell, period of 14 seconds, with a light breeze and a score that suggests very good surf. The energy is 597, so it’s a bit less than Monday, but the wind is lighter.

For a true standout, Monday 27 July morning is the call. The waves will be around 4ft from the east, with a long 16-second period and clean, light cross-off winds. The energy is strong, and the break is a reef, so those long-period swells will set up nicely. Tankers is a consistent beginner reef break, but it’s exposed to the swell and often crowded. Expect company, but for the size, it’s appropriate.

Tuesday 28 July morning is also excellent as a second option. The swell is similar, 4ft from the east, with a 14-second period, and the wind is a light cross-off. The energy is a bit lower, but the conditions are glassy. It’s a close second.

Rusty.

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