Tankers Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what's coming our way at Tankers.

Honestly, for the next couple of weeks, we're not looking at a classic run. There's a bit of energy on the cards early next week, but the conditions are going to fight us every step of the way. The first few days are a write-off with messy winds, and after that, the swell drops right away and we're left staring at small, clean but weak waves for the long haul. It's a real mixed bag.

We kick things off this Friday, September 4th. There's some swell in the water at Tankers – 5ft of south swell with a solid 13-second period. The combined energy is moderate (1288). But here’s the kicker: the wind is pumping out of the ENE at 18-19 mph. It's cross-offshore, so it will keep things clean, but that's a fresh breeze. It’s not going to be pretty, and the forecast calls it marginal. Same story for Saturday, September 5th. The swell picks up a touch to 6ft, swinging more east, with energy climbing into the low 2000s, but that ENE wind hangs around at 15-18 mph. Clean, but blown out.

Sunday, September 6th, things get worse. The swell hits 6-7ft, but the wind turns cross-shore from the east and we've got some clouds and even a risk of thunderstorms. The wave quality drops off a cliff. By Monday, September 7th, the swell is up to 8ft from the SW, and the energy is strong (4045). But by the afternoon it’s pumping 11ft with a 15-second period, energy is very strong (7698), and the wind is howling cross-onshore at 22 mph. The water temp is a warm 81°, which is about normal for this time of year, but that doesn't help the surf. This is for experts only, and honestly, with that onshore blow, it looks more like a kitesurfing day than a paddle session.

Tuesday, September 8th, is a full-on dud. Onshore winds and dropping swell, down to 5ft with a short, weak 8-second period. The energy drops right back to weak (692). After that, from Wednesday, September 9th, right through to the end of the forecast on September 19th, we're in the doldrums. We have a long gap of nothing but small, weak waves. The swell is consistently below 3ft, often dropping to 1-2ft. The energy is weak, in the 100-800 range. The wind does go clean cross-offshore from the ENE most of the time, so the surface will be glassy, but there’s just no power. The period gets long (up to 24 seconds on the 14th), which would be beautiful for a point break, but at Tankers, a beach/reef setup, that long period is just going to close out. It's clean but tiny.

So, if you're desperate for a paddle, the best bet is probably the early part of Saturday, September 5th. The swell is 6ft from the east, period is a decent 14 seconds, and the wind is cross-offshore, keeping it clean. It's not a standout by any stretch, but it’s the only time where we have a decent size with decent conditions. After that, the forecast gets grim. The second week is a washout.

This is Rusty, signing off.

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