Perkins - surf spot statistics

Best Surf Season (October - March)

Winter lows march across the North Atlantic, firing up the swell machine for Perkins. The beach's ENE exposure means it's primed to capture long-period groundswell from NE through ESE, with average heights climbing to 0.8-1.0m and periods averaging 8.2-8.6s – rideable, punchy fun. But here's the rub: the dominant wind regime shifts onshore from the east as often as not, with ideal offshore flow from SW-WNW only clocking in 10-16% of the time. You'll need to pick your windows carefully, typically ahead of cold fronts when winds clock westerly.

Fair Surf Season (April & September)

Spring and fall transitions offer a mixed bag. April sees a slight drop in average height to 0.8m, but swell from the east still dominates (28% E, 20.6% ENE). Wind is just as fickle, with ideal offshore conditions a mere 13%. September brings a jump in average period to 9.0s – that's the first taste of long-period groundswell from tropical systems and early winter storms. Yet, easterly winds still plague the lineup, keeping the quality inconsistent. These months are for the patient surfer willing to wait for a light offshore breeze.

Low Surf Season (May - August)

Summer settles in and the North Pacific and Atlantic become sleepy. Average swell heights drop to a meager 0.5-0.7m, with periods hovering around 7.6-8.1s. Most of the energy is short-period, windswell from the east, barely pushing the 1m mark. To make matters worse, the prevailing easterly trade winds blow onshore almost constantly – ideal offshore winds are a rare 8-11%. The waves become small, soft, and often choppy. This is groveler territory, best suited for longboards and foils when a weak tropical swell sneaks in. Unless you enjoy micro-sessions, plan your trip for the winter half of the year.

May: The Summer Void Begins

May ushers in the summer doldrums. Average swell height plummets to 0.7m, and period drops to 7.9s – short-period, weak energy. The swell is nearly all from the east, with E alone accounting for 37.7% and ENE 22.2%, but most of it is under 1m (24.5% from E in the 0.5-1m range). Only 3.2% of waves reach 1-1.5m. Offshore wind becomes even rarer at 11%, while the easterly trade wind machine cranks up – winds from E, ESE, and SE make up over 43% of the total, blowing directly onshore. This is a true down month: small, weak, and generally choppy. A longboard or foil is your best friend.