Tankers Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s get into it. The next 16 days are a real mixed bag for Tankers. We’ve got a solid pulse of energy coming through, but it’s going to be a game of patience with the wind. The water’s sitting at 81°, which is pretty much spot on for this time of year, so no surprises there.

The first real surfable window doesn’t show up until Monday the 7th of September, and even then, it’s not something to write home about. Monday morning brings a 7ft swell from the east, but it’s a short-period 12 seconds. The trouble is that wind: a fresh 22 mph cross-breeze from the ESE is going to chop it up and make it lumpy. The combined energy is strong (2472), but it’s a messy, marginal call. By Monday afternoon, the swell jumps to 8ft from the southwest, but the wind cranks up to 28 mph cross-onshore. That’s a write-off—only for the hardcore. That 8ft is also pushing into expert-only territory, and with the wind howling, it’s not worth it.

Tuesday the 8th is a bit of a tease. Morning has 8ft from the SSW, but the wind is onshore at 19 mph, killing any chance of clean waves. The combined energy is high (2719), but the conditions are poor. The afternoon drops to 7ft and the wind eases to 12 mph cross-onshore, but it’s still choppy.

Then we hit a flat spell. From Wednesday the 9th through to Saturday the 13th, the swell drops right off to 3ft and below, with weak energy (under 500). The winds are light, but the swell is too small to do anything with. It’s a few days of small, weak surf.

Now, here’s where it gets interesting. The first real standout window appears on Monday the 14th of September. It’s a small day, with only 2ft of swell, but the period is a massive 22 seconds—that’s a very long-period groundswell. The wind turns glassy in the afternoon, with a combined energy of 385. That’s clean, glassy conditions, and for a spot like Tankers (a reef break), that long-period energy will wrap in nicely. It’s a small wave, but clean and with that super long period, it’ll be fun for a log or a mid-length.

The best of the whole forecast, though, is Tuesday the 15th of September. The morning is a bit marginal with 3ft from the SW at 20 seconds, but the afternoon is the pick. The swell holds at 3ft from the SSW, period 19 seconds, with a light 6 mph cross-offshore breeze from the east. The combined energy is 564, and the conditions are clean. This is a really good window: small but clean, with that long period making the most of the reef. It’s a standout for sure.

After that, the swell hangs around 3ft for a few days, but the wind picks up again. By Thursday the 17th and Friday the 18th, the wind is up to 19-25 mph from the ENE, which is cross-offshore, so it’s clean but windy. The combined energy stays moderate (around 500-1000), but with the wind howling, it’s going to be a battle. The swell is still 3ft to 4ft, but it’s not going to be pretty.

The final week, from the 19th to the 22nd of September, is a slow fade. The swell drops to 2ft to 3ft, the wind is still fresh, and the energy is weak (under 500). Nothing to get excited about.

So, the best bet is Tuesday the 15th of September, with the afternoon session at Tankers. The next best is Monday the 14th, with that glassy, long-period swell. Everything else is a struggle.

Rusty.

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