Tankers Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let's talk about what's coming up at Tankers. It's a bit of a slow start, but we've got a few interesting windows if you're patient.

The first few days are a letdown. Thursday the 6th through Saturday the 9th of August deliver very small, weak swell. You're looking at waves around 1 ft to 2 ft, and with a persistent cross-offshore wind, it's clean but just not enough oomph to get you going. The combined swell energy is weak at best, sitting at 124 on Thursday morning. It's a tough time to be a surfer.

Things get a little more interesting, but still not great, from Sunday the 9th into the middle of the week. The swell picks up a touch, averaging 2 ft to 4 ft, and the energy builds into the moderate range, hitting 566 on Tuesday afternoon. You'll see a few more waves, but the quality is still marginal. The water temperature is a warm 81°, which is pretty normal for this time of year.

Come Wednesday the 12th and Thursday the 13th of August, the swell is getting a bit more serious. We're seeing 3 ft to 4 ft from the south, with a long period of 18 seconds. This is proper groundswell, and the combined energy is strong, hitting 1003 on Wednesday morning. The wind is a clean cross-offshore, but it's blowing a fresh breeze. This is the best the forecast has to offer, but it's still just a marginal surf forecast. For a reef break like Tankers, that long period south swell should wrap in nicely, but the size and wind aren't quite perfect.

Now, here's the kicker. From Saturday the 15th of August, the swell jumps up to 10 ft from the east, with a short period of 8 seconds. The combined energy is massive, hitting 1643 on Saturday afternoon. That's a lot of water moving, but with that short period, it's going to be a mess. The wind is a strong cross-offshore, blowing 22 to 25 mph. This is no longer a surf spot; it's a full-on wind swell junkyard. For a beginner-friendly reef like Tankers, this is way too big and raw. Honestly, this setup looks like it's more for the kite surfers than paddle surfing.

After that, the swell drops off fast. From Monday the 17th onward, it's back to tiny, weak waves with poor conditions. The 18th of August has a light breeze, but the swell is a pathetic 2 ft with next to no energy.

So, the bottom line: if you're desperate, Wednesday the 12th and Thursday the 13th of August are the only real window for a surf, and even then, it's marginal. The best bet is a south swell at 3 ft to 4 ft, with a long 18-second period, but the wind is going to be a factor. The rest of the 16-day outlook is either too small, too big, or too windy. I'd be keeping an eye on the Wednesday morning session, but don't get your hopes up too high.

Rusty.

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