Santa Barbara Area Surf Report

May Overview | 1996 Overview


Date/Time:
Sunday, May 19th, 11:45 am - 2:30 pm
Location:
Rincon Point
Weather:
Summer-like weather, no clouds, no wind. Sunburn time.
Conditions:
Fair. Mushy and a little windswelly.
Swell:
Out-of-season WNW wind and groundswell. Sets from waist to head high, possibly with overhead peaks here and there.
Comments:
Surprise! Checked the buoys on a lark and was astounded to see the east channel buoy at 7 ft, 14 seconds. Swellage! After a little cajoling, got Bettye to join me and jumped into the car.

Light crowd, most people including me probably surfed out from the good three days of southern hemi groundswell, some of which was still showing in the lineup.

Most waves were walling out wide and closing, with a weak shoulder. Got a lot of fun ones nonetheless, with the first the most memorable despite its small size. Three... four... five roundhouse cutbacks past the rivermouth, felt almost like winter and it's May.

Got cold and headed through the cove on my way out. Very small inside, waist high with some shoulder high sets at best, and well- dominated by the longboard contingent. One inexperienced member of that contingent got caught in the current and swept down along the rocks towards La Conchita, panic city until someone swam out to him and took him in to the rocks. No harm done.


Santa Barbara Surfing -- Last updated 6/17/96.