72nd Place Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s cut through it and tell ya what I’m seeing for 72nd Place. This is a sheltered, advanced-only spot that’s inconsistent, so when it works, it’s a gem, but we’re looking at a pretty bleak run for the most part.

Right now and for the first week and a half, there’s honestly nothing to get excited about. The swell is tiny—mostly around 1 ft to 3 ft—coming from the SSW, and it’s getting chopped up by cross-onshore winds. The energy is weak (120 to 362 combined energy), and the conditions are just poor. It’s a sad stretch from August 17 all the way through to August 28. For a break that’s already inconsistent, that’s a tough go. If you're a beginner, you're not missing a thing—this swell is way too small anyway.

Now, I’ll tell you what does catch my eye, but it’s a long way off. Mark your calendar for August 29 (Saturday) morning. We finally see a jump in energy, hitting 455 combined energy (moderate), with a clean 3 ft SSW swell and a long-period groundswell of 17 seconds. That period is a real beauty—plenty of power, nice shape. The wind is light and offshore from the WSW at just 3 mph, so it should be glassy clean. This is the standout window for the whole forecast. The only catch is that 3 ft is small even for an advanced crew, and long-period groundswell like that tends to wrap into a sheltered spot like 72nd Place with some nice lines, but it can also leave you waiting between sets. You’ll want a longboard or a fish.

The next morning, August 30 (Sunday) morning, is also worth a look. There's a similar 3 ft SSW swell with 15-second period, again with a light offshore wind from the SW at 6 mph. The energy stays solid (480 combined energy) and it could offer clean conditions, though it won’t quite have the same punch as Saturday.

After that, we drift back into mediocrity through to the beginning of September. The water temp? No data here to give you an anomaly, but it feels about average for the time of year. Crowds are "sometimes" an issue here, so on those rare good days, you can expect a few other savvy locals in the water.

Bottom line: If you’re an advanced surfer who knows this break and you’re patient, the morning of August 29 is your shot. Everything else is a skunk. The whole first nine days are a write-off, but we get a little glimmer at the very end.

Stay out there,
Rusty

Read more