Tarcoola (Chanteez) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what's coming down the line for Tarcoola (Chanteez). Straight off the bat, this is a period that calls for patience. There's a bit of a slow start, but there's a proper run of solid, powerful groundswell in the second week that has the potential to be absolutely pumping, if you time it right and have the skills to handle it. The water is sitting at 68°F, which is about two degrees colder than you'd expect for this time of year, so you'll want that extra rubber.

We kick things off on the morning of Thursday, July 23rd. The first day is not a write-off, but I'd call it average at best. We've got a clean 6ft SW groundswell (14 seconds) with a fresh offshore wind. The wave energy is already hefty (1402), making it a powerful, clean wave, but the surf forecast notes mention questionable tide conditions. The afternoon holds similar with a 6ft SW swell and a lighter cross-off breeze. It's surfable, but hardly the highlight.

Friday the 24th and Saturday the 25th see the swell drop back a fair bit. Friday morning offers a clean 4ft SW groundswell with a moderate offshore, but the energy is weak (495) and the rating is low. By Saturday afternoon the 25th, the swell drops to a very weak 3ft from the SW, but the wind goes glassy. It will be a pretty, clean, tiny wave if you're desperate for a paddle, but the energy is almost non-existent.

Now, don’t get too excited about Sunday the 26th. We see a longer period SW groundswell (16 seconds) but the combined energy (383) is weak, and the size is only 2ft to 3ft with unfavourable onshore winds. It’s a pass.

Hold onto your board, because Monday July 27th is where things start to get serious. A powerful 8ft SW groundswell (14 seconds) hits, with a clean cross-offshore breeze in the morning. The energy shoots up to (2125). For most of us, this is pushing into the big territory—definitely for experienced surfers only. The data flags it as too big for this break, so unless you're well-versed and hungry for a heavy beat-down, watch from the sand. The afternoon is similar but with a cross-shore wind.

The best of the best for the more manageable swell arrives on Tuesday, July 28th. You get a solid 6ft groundswell from the SW. The morning brings a moderate offshore wind, and it’s clean. But the standout is the afternoon, where the wind goes completely glassy. That 6ft swell (14 seconds, 1414 energy) with clean, smooth faces? That’s your window. This is the pick of the first week.

From Wednesday July 29th through Thursday July 30th, the energy drops way back to the 3ft to 4ft range, albeit with very long periods (16-18 seconds) and manageable winds, just not enough size to get excited about.

Now, we roll into the second week, and it’s a beast. Friday August 1st, we have a bigger 7ft WSW groundswell (16 seconds) in the morning with a clean cross-off wind and huge energy (2529). Again, too big for mere mortals at Tarcoola, but the clean lines will be incredible for those who can handle it. Saturday August 2nd jumps to a solid 8ft SW groundswell, but the wind turns a bit cross-on in the afternoon.

Sunday August 3rd rolls in with a 8ft SW groundswell (16 seconds, 4548 energy) and a clean cross-off breeze in the morning. This is massive. It’s an expert-only window at most breaks. The afternoon gets bigger still at 10ft with a lumpy cross-shore wind, making it a messy, dangerous beast. This run of massive events continues right through Monday and Tuesday with waves consistently over 7ft.

For the rest of the week, we are looking at a sustained run of large-to-big SW groundswells, but the winds turn ugly from Wednesday August 5th onwards. Strong to gale-force onshore and cross-shore winds wreck the surface. The period ends with consistently poor, blown-out conditions through to Friday August 7th.

So, to wrap it up: The first half is a slow grind to a couple of good, clean windows on the 28th. The second half is a proper swell event over 7ft, but it's not a beginner’s game and the wind will kill it completely toward the end. If you are an advanced surfer and you have a quiver of step-ups, the morning of Tuesday July 28th is the pick for a clean, glassy session on a good-sized swell. For the true big-wave enthusiasts, the clean, large groundswell on August 3rd is your target, but treat it with respect.

Rusty.

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