Nantucket is an island off the coast of Massachusetts that attracts surfers, especially during the colder months. While the summer brings a lively beach scene, the surf really picks up in the autumn and winter, when the beach breaks on the south coast start to perform consistently. With a variety of fun sand bars and even some novelty surf options, there’s usually something happening in the water. Some surfers even ride ferry waves here, and there are occasional frozen waves during extreme winter cold snaps.
The surf in Nantucket can handle swells ranging from 3 to 9 feet (about 1 to 2.7 meters). The best swell directions to look for are from the southeast, south, or southwest. When the waves break, they usually come as beach breaks over sand, with options for both right and left waves. The preferred wind directions are when the wind comes in from the northwest or north, which helps create cleaner conditions. You can catch waves here at all tides, but low to mid and mid to high tides tend to work best. The crowd factor is something to consider; it gets really crowded in the summer, but things calm down during the winter months, even if it's freezing out.
In terms of surfing abilities, Nantucket caters to beginners, intermediates, and experts alike. You’ll see a mix of board types in the water, including shortboards, fish, funboards, and longboards, depending on the day and conditions. The local vibe is pretty chill, with enough sand bars allowing surfers to share the waves without too much hassle. Overall, Nantucket offers a fun beach break experience, especially in the autumn and winter.