Tankers Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s cooking for Tankers over the next couple of weeks.

Straight up, this isn’t a week for the heroes. We’ve got a solid run of tiny, weak swell with a lot of wind. The first decent chance doesn’t pop up until Monday afternoon the 14th, and even then it’s pretty marginal. The water temp is sitting at a warm 82°, about average for this time of year, so at least you won’t need a steamer.

Sunday the 13th is a write-off. Morning has a tiny 2ft SW swell with a very long 15-second period, but it’s cross-shore and the combined energy is weak (223). The afternoon goes glassy with an even smaller 1ft SSW swell, but the energy drops right off (140). It’s surfable, just barely, but nothing to get excited about.

Monday the 14th morning stays poor with a 1.0ft swell and cross wind. The afternoon finally shows a pulse: 2ft SW swell with a 22-second period, which is a very long groundswell. The energy jumps to 324, and the wind goes light cross-offshore. It’s clean, but the size is tiny. This is the first window where you could get a fun little wave if you’re patient.

Tuesday the 15th morning is the best call in the whole outlook. Swell pushes up to 3ft from the SW with a 20-second period, and the combined energy hits 620. Wind is a gentle cross-offshore breeze. It’s clean, with some push. This is the standout for the near term. Tuesday afternoon holds similar, but the wind picks up a notch.

From Wednesday the 16th through the 19th, we get stuck in a pattern of 3ft to 4ft SSW swell with moderate to fresh cross-off winds. The energy climbs into the 900s and even 1217 on Friday the 18th morning. The problem is the wind is consistently fresh, and the surf quality notes keep saying “marginal.” It’s rideable, but it’s not clean and tidy.

Then there’s a shift. On Sunday the 20th morning, we see a 6ft swell from the east, but the period drops to a short 8 seconds. That’s windswell, lumpy, and the wind is honking at 22 mph. The energy is 896, but that’s all wind. Not great for a paddle board.

After that, the 21st and 22nd drop back to tiny 3ft to 3ft swell. The 22nd afternoon is called “poor surf conditions” with a score of zero.

Now, looking at the 23rd and 24th, there’s a bit more size coming. Wednesday the 23rd morning shows a 6ft east swell with an 11-second period and energy of 1031. Still fresh cross-off wind. Thursday the 24th morning shows 7ft east swell, 9-second period, energy 1007. That’s a solid size, but that short period and fresh wind will make it messy. That’s expert territory at that size, and the quality is still “marginal” in the notes.

From the 25th through the 27th, it’s 6ft to 6ft east swell with a short 7 to 8-second period and fresh cross to cross-off winds. The 27th morning gets a “poor surf conditions” call with lumpy cross-chop. Not a good look.

Finally, the 28th shows a switch back to a 3ft to 4ft SSW groundswell with a long 17-second period and moderate cross-off winds. That could clean up, but the energy is still moderate (944).

Honestly, if you’re surfing Tankers, the only real window to paddle out and have a clean, fun session is Tuesday morning the 15th. That 3ft SW groundswell with light wind is your best bet. Everything else is either too small, too windy, or too short-period and lumpy. For the bigger days around the 23rd and 24th, the setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing with that short-period east windswell and strong wind.

Keep an eye on it, though. It tends not to stay poor for long.

Rusty.

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