72nd Place Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, this is Rusty. Let’s be straight with you – the next 16 days at 72nd Place are looking pretty grim. It’s a sheltered spot that needs a good SW swell, and while there’s a bit of energy coming through, the wind just won’t play nice. We’re looking at a long, dry spell with hardly a proper window to paddle out.

The first real chance doesn’t show up until the morning of Friday, the 28th of August. Even then, it’s marginal. The swell is a long-period groundswell from the SSW at 2ft, with a period of 19 seconds. That’s a lot of energy (combined energy of 406) but it’s a clean, light offshore wind from the WSW at 6 mph. The water is sitting at 68°, which is about average for this time of year. For an advanced surfer at an inconsistent, sheltered break like this, it’s a real gamble. The set waves will be fat and slow with that long period, and it’s a spot that rarely breaks properly. If you’re desperate for a slide, this is the only real shot, but don’t expect much.

The next morning, Saturday the 29th of August, has a similar look. Swell bumps up to 3ft from the SSW, period drops to 17 seconds, and the energy is pumping (568). The wind is light offshore again from the SW at 6 mph. Still, it’s only a marginal call, and the afternoon gets blown out by a cross-onshore breeze. This is the standout of the whole period, but it’s a sad standout. It’s the best of a bad bunch.

After that, it’s back to choppy, cross-onshore winds and tiny waves. There’s a gap of several days with no real recommendations. The morning of Sunday the 30th of August has a light cross-onshore and 4ft swell, but it’s still marginal. Nothing else comes close to being worth a paddle.

Honestly, this setup is more interesting for the kite surfers than us. With the consistent onshore or cross-onshore winds and small, choppy surf, it’s a tough run for a wave count. Keep an eye on the charts, but for now, I’d find something else to do.

Rusty.

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