Rope Burns is a world-class right reef break that peels along dramatic sea cliffs on East Sumba's coast. The wave produces barreling rights over sharp, shallow reef with serious consequences for wipeouts—hence the name. When solid S-SW swell hits, Rope Burns delivers some of the best tube rides east of Sumbawa. Expert-only conditions and remote access keep crowds to a minimum.
Model forecast for swell, wind and tide.
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Water temp
28°C
Wetsuit
Boardshorts / Rashguard
Difficulty
9/10
Crowd level
4/10
The Rope Burns profile favors mid tide, ideally between 0.5m and 1.5m on the local tide chart. Compare this preference with the forecast tide and local conditions before choosing a session.
The Rope Burns profile uses wind from N (0°) as its preferred direction, with an offshore range of 330° to 30°. Wind speed matters too: light winds outside that range can still produce surfable conditions, while strong offshore winds can make takeoffs difficult.
The Rope Burns scoring profile favors swell from SSW (190° to 220°), a swell-height range of 1.8m to 3m, and a reference period of 14s. These are model inputs, not guaranteed breaking-wave heights or a promise that the surf will suit every ability.
The main season at Rope Burns is Apr-Oct. A secondary window runs Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar. Best Apr-Oct (dry season, SE trades offshore). Swells year-round but wet season brings onshore winds.
The spot profile lists WGP as a nearby airport. The estimated road transfer is 45 minutes.
Rope Burns is a reef break, a right-hander. Difficulty is rated 9/10.
Peak: Apr-Oct
Secondary: Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar
Best Apr-Oct (dry season, SE trades offshore). Swells year-round but wet season brings onshore winds.
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