72nd Place Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, it’s Rusty here. Let’s be straight up – the next couple of weeks are gonna be a real mixed bag at Seventy-Second-Place. For the most part, we’re looking at small, messy surf that’s just not doing anyone any favours. The conditions are mostly poor, with a lot of cross-onshore wind messing up what little swell there is. The wave energy’s all over the place, but don’t let that fool you – most of these windows are duds.

Starting off from Sunday the 12th through to the 17th, it’s pretty much a write-off. Swells are tiny, hanging around 1ft to 3ft, and that combined energy is weak, rarely cracking 300 (324-337 range at best). Winds are mostly onshore or cross-onshore, so the surface is either choppy or just flat out messy. You’re not gonna find anything worth paddling out for here.

Then we hit Saturday the 18th of July, and there’s a brief glimmer. The morning shows a spike in swell to 5ft from the SSE, with a long period of 16 seconds – that’s proper groundswell energy. The combined energy jumps right up to 1734, so there’s some real power in the water. Winds are light and onshore, which isn’t ideal, but it’s not howling. Still, the forecast calls it “marginal” at best, and the afternoon gets chopped up by 12 mph cross-onshore winds. For a spot that’s inconsistent and sheltered from the SW, this could be the only window where you score something rideable. The 5ft swell is pushing expert territory, so leave the beginners on the beach. Be aware, crowds are a possibility here, especially if word gets out.

From Sunday the 19th onward, it’s back to the grind. Swell drops to 4ft and smaller, with combined energy bouncing between 317 and 898. The wind keeps swinging onshore or cross-onshore, so it’s choppy or blown out almost every afternoon. There’s a tease around Friday the 24th morning with a very long-period swell of 24 seconds, but it’s only 2ft and the cross-onshore wind kills it. The 26th and 27th show some marginal morning windows with energy up to 959 and 984, but again, the winds and small swell just don’t line up for a clean ride.

Honestly, the standout here is the morning of Saturday the 18th. It’s the only time the swell size and period combine for something with enough push and shape to be worth a look. But it’s a short window, and you’ll need to be on it early before the afternoon wind ruins it.

For the rest of the run, it’s mostly a case of waiting for a proper clean swell and a decent offshore. This spot can be fickle when it’s inconsistent, and this stretch proves it.

Alright, that’s the story. Keep your eyes on that Saturday morning – it’s your best bet by a long shot.

Rusty.

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