About Delaware Surf Travel
The 160 miles fronting the Chesapeake Bay is the most overlooked stretch of coast in America. In fact, many West Coasters don’t even know it exists. “You’re from Virginia; is there an ocean there?” is a common query posed along the California coast. To the north, a bunch of “News” — England, York and Jersey — are noted for their idyllic point setups and dedicated locals. To the south, the Outer Banks protrude oceanward to hoard both power and respect. The mid-Atlantic coast is a virtually unheard of surf destination, thanks in part to the allure of its more noteworthy neighbors. It suffers the classic “middle child” syndrome. This is not to say that the surfing world is missing out due to some top-secret government cover-up. This is clearly not the wave-rich piece of the East Coast puzzle and the drive a few hours to the north or south is almost always worth it. Bookended by major swell-catchers, this area is truly stuck in the middle.
Delmarva suffers anemic surf because of a triple-whammy of debilitating factors. First, and most importantly, the swell window is far from picturesque, thanks to its protruding neighbors. Next, a broad continental shelf lessens any swell that does come its way. And finally, even if a giant swell miraculously makes its way to the coast, there’s nowhere for it to go. The coast is basically straight, lacking any headlands or coves, which bend swell into something magical.
What surf the area gets is generally mushy beachbreak. Jetties and piers provide some sand-forming action, but conditions change with each passing swell. A place might turn on for a few days or weeks, but any nor’easter basically rearranges the furniture with less than welcome results.
Despite the frustrating combination of deterrents, surf populations thrive. Virginia Beach, with its metropolitan neighbors, fields an especially large number of surfers. Ocean City is another mecca, but just as with Delaware, being cut off from the mainland by the vast Chesapeake Bay keeps numbers in check.
Delaware Surf Crowds:
Without the magnetic effect of a world-class break, the Delmarva coast isn’t the sort of place you dream of infiltrating after high school. But with so few legitimate spots to choose from, the local contingent can get downright sardine-canned, especially during summer, when tourists and locals alike hit the surf en masse and things can get dangerous. Surfers are wedged into tiny surf zones, while sun-seared Griswald types bob along the shore. The vast majority of surf-related injuries are results of human/human interaction rather than any inherent danger in the surf.
With the “beginner boom” overtaking many lineups, hierarchies of years past have all but vanished. In most cases, it’s a free-for-all. There are alternatives to the better-known breaks, although a legitimate swell is necessary for success off the beaten path. Several uninhabited barrier islands off Maryland and Virginia’s eastern shore are navigable only by boat and offer welcome seclusion.
Delaware Surf Hazards:
Summer here is a hazard in itself. With the annual tourist invasion comes gridlock, jellyfish, sea lice, police and insanity. Since the surf is so friendly and unobtrusive, other people and little critters are all you need to worry about.
Best Surf Seasons in Delaware:
1) Fall
Oh, sweet autumn, if only it lasted longer than two weeks. For a period in late September/early October, Delmarva isn’t such a bad place to be. Spingsuits come into play at this time, followed in quick succession by fullsuits and boots by November. Cool northeasters and late season hurricanes are a godsend. Then again, when it’s good here, you can imagine what it’s like to the north and south. Unfortunately, as soon as you start getting used to it, it’s gone and winter descends with a vengeance.
2) Winter
Come December, being stuck in the middle isn’t such a bad thing. The water isn’t unbearably cold, but the mercury dips enough to thin out the crowd. Canadian clippers bring north swells and the occasional south swell draws surfers from their hoods like so many brave turtles. Winter swells pack a considerably stronger punch than their cross-season counterparts, making the chilly temperatures — typically around 40 degrees in the surf — worth the risk.
3) Spring
Old Man Winter makes his exit far slower than his unwelcome entrance, so don’t peel off that armor right away. Invariably, on a sunny, 70-degree day, some fool will paddle out bareback in the sub-50 degree Atlantic, only to lose record of his testicles as the cold squeezes them like a vise. Gloves are shorn in April, boots in May and fullsuits sometimes have to wait until June. South swells begin to peek around Cape Hatteras, but this generally isn’t a consistent time for surf. Oh yeah, it’s the East Coast; there is no consistent time for surf.
4) Summer
Like most East Coast locales, summer along Delmarva is tourist season, meaning restrictions and gridlock on the roads and in the lineup. If that isn’t bad enough, it’s also the worst season for surf, as high pressure and offshore winds resound. Hurricane season, which begins June 1, typically doesn’t heat up until August. July is the best time not to be on the East Coast, and that is especially true for the Mid-Atlantic. However, it’s nice to shed rubber for four months of the year.