Tankers Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s cut through the noise and get into what’s happening at Tankers. Over the next couple of weeks, we’re looking at a real mixed bag, with plenty of days that are just not worth paddling out for. The wave energy is weak for most of the run, and the wind is a constant factor. The water temp is sitting at 81°, which is pretty much normal for the time of year.

The first few days – Wednesday the 5th through Saturday the 8th of August – are honestly a write-off. Swell is tiny, only 1ft to 2ft, and the wave energy is all over the place, from a weak 94 up to a moderate 532 on Saturday morning. But it doesn’t matter, because the wind is a solid 15 to 22 mph from the east-northeast, keeping things messy. There’s just no push for a proper surf. Don’t bother.

We start to see a tiny flicker of life on Sunday the 9th of August. The morning shows a bump to 4ft from the east, but the period is a super short 7 seconds, so it’s going to be weak and crumbly. The combined energy jumps to 514 (moderate), but the wind is still a problem at 12 mph cross-off. It’s only a marginal call for a reason.

The week of the 11th to the 14th of August sees a slow, steady build. The swell creeps up from 3ft to 4ft, and the period gets into the 15-18 second range, which is proper groundswell. The combined energy gets strong, hitting 1177 on the morning of Thursday the 13th. But here’s the kicker: the wind is relentless. It’s a solid 16 to 22 mph from the east and east-northeast every single session. While it’s cross-off, that strong breeze will make it lumpy and challenging. Waves at 4ft to 4ft with that much power are doable, but it’s not going to be clean. This stretch is the best on offer, but it’s still a tough call. The standout would be the morning of Thursday the 13th, with that 4ft south swell (16s period) and strong energy (1177), but the wind keeps it from being a classic.

Then we hit a bit of a weird one. Saturday the 15th and Sunday the 16th see the swell jump to 6ft, but the period drops right back to a short 8 seconds. The energy is still strong (784-858), but all that juice is coming from a short-period east swell. It’s going to be a choppy, bumpy mess, especially with the wind still blowing 19-22 mph. That’s more kite-surfing territory than a good paddle session.

After that, the swell tanks again. From Monday the 17th right through the end of the forecast on Thursday the 20th, we’re back to piddly 2ft to 2ft waves. The energy drops to moderate or even weak (138), and the wind just won’t let up. The water gets a bit of a mix of directions, but it’s all too small and too windy to matter.

So, to be honest, there’s no screaming, world-class day in this window. The best bet is to watch the morning of the 13th, but don’t expect perfection. The rest of the time, you’re better off finding something else to do or just waiting for a change in the forecast.

Rusty.

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