Pilgrim Avenue Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s get to it. I’m looking at the forecast for Pilgrim Avenue, and I gotta be straight with you: it’s a tough stretch. For the first few days, from Monday the 24th of August right through to the end of the month, the swell is tiny, mostly under 2 feet, with short, weak periods. The wind is often cross or cross-off, but the real problem is just a total lack of energy. The combined swell energy is barely in the double digits most days, bottoming out at 11. It’s not going to be worth paddling out.

We finally get a little pulse starting Friday morning the 28th of August. Swell bumps up to 3 feet from the south, with a short period around 7 seconds, and the combined energy climbs to 129 (moderate). The wind is light and cross-off, so it’ll be clean. But the waves are described as ‘very ordinary’ – it’s rideable, but forgettable. That morning is about the best on offer this week, and it’s really only a 1 out of 10 on the quality scale.

Saturday morning the 29th of August sees a similar story – 2 feet from the south, with glassy conditions. That wind is a real treat, but the swell is just too weak to get your heart racing. The combined energy is only 81.

Then there’s a real tease on Monday afternoon the 31st of August. A 1-foot swell from the south-southwest, but with a period jumping to 18 seconds! That’s a very long-period groundswell, and the combined energy hits 147 (moderate). But the height is just too small to do anything with, and it’s still considered poor surf. Frustrating.

Tuesday the 1st of September gets a bit more interesting on the energy front, with combined energy up to 208, but the wind is onshore and cross-shore, making a mess of the 2-foot swell.

Now, looking ahead to the second week, we have a potential standout. Thursday the 3rd of September morning sees a jump in swell height to 5 feet from the southeast, with a period of 15 seconds. That’s serious groundswell energy, with the combined energy screaming up to 896 (strong). The problem is the wind – it’s a moderate cross-onshore, creating choppy conditions. That afternoon, the wind switches to a gentle cross-shore, and the rating bumps up to a 2. It’s going to be a messier, more powerful day, but it’s the biggest push of the period.

The real gem, if you can wait, is Friday the 4th of September. The morning still has a 4-foot swell from the southeast with a 14-second period, and the wind is a clean cross-off from the north-northwest. The combined energy is still very strong at 702. But the afternoon is where it’s at. The swell drops slightly to 4 feet from the southeast, the period is 13 seconds, and the wind goes offshore from the west, with a light breeze. The forecast says ‘expect good surf conditions’ – that’s the best call we get all outlook. The combined energy is still a solid 525. For a reef and point break like Pilgrim Avenue, that long-period groundswell is going to produce some well-shaped, powerful lines. It’s a standout morning, but the afternoon with offshore wind is the pick of the entire 16 days.

After that, it drops off again quickly. Saturday the 5th of September is back to tiny 2-foot waves, and the following week is a sea of poor surf conditions with onshore winds and no energy.

To sum it up: the first week is a write-off. Friday the 4th of September afternoon is the only true highlight. If you’re an intermediate surfer, that 4-foot, 13-second swell with offshore wind will be clean and fun. The 5-foot days on the 3rd might be a bit too much for beginners, and the choppy conditions will keep it from being perfect. This is a long-range call, so keep an eye on it, but right now, mark your calendar for Friday the 4th.

Rusty.

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