Fairhaven Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what we’ve got cooking.

Right off the bat, this is a big, powerful swell event hitting Fairhaven, but there’s a major catch for most of us. The swell is just too damn big for a beginner-friendly spot like this for the first several days. We’re looking at a solid run of groundswell from the SW, starting Thursday the 23rd of July with a massive wave energy reading of 11310 and a 13ft swell. That’s a *lot* of water moving. The water temp is sitting at 58°, which is pretty much what you’d expect for this time of year, so no surprises there.

The best of the early action, if you’re an experienced charger, hits on the 24th of July – Friday morning. We’ve got a 16ft SW groundswell with a 15-second period and the energy is pumped up to 19330. That’s some serious, raw power. The winds are cross-offshore, keeping things clean. This is big, heavy, expert-only territory, and honestly, for a spot that’s a beach break that rarely breaks, seeing this much size is wild. For most surfers, this is a straight-up spectator event or one for the jet ski crew.

The swell sticks around through the weekend, but it’s still over 8ft on Saturday and Sunday, with clean conditions but still a lot of water. By Sunday the 26th, the energy drops off to 3105 with a 10ft swell, but the quality goes down and the forecast gets marginal. Monday the 27th morning is still a bit sloppy, but by the afternoon, things get interesting. We get a clean, 6ft SW swell with an 11-second period and a nice cross-off breeze from the NW. That’s a much more manageable size, and the energy is down to 1111 – finally something that feels like a normal, fun surf. This is the first real window for a proper session for those who aren’t riding mutant waves.

After that, we get a bit of a lull mid-week. The 28th and 29th see size bounce back up to 8ft to 10ft, but the winds go unfavourable, mostly onshore. The energy is moderate but the quality is poor. Then we get another small window on the 31st of July, but the swell is under 5ft, so it’s a bit small and weak for a spot that needs a good push.

Now, the standout. August 4th, Tuesday morning is the one to circle on the calendar. The swell is a clean 8ft from the SW with a long 16-second period. The energy is a solid 2576 – good, strong, powerful lines. And the wind? Glassy, light offshore from the ENE. This is the kind of setup that turns Fairhaven into a proper wave. It’s still a big swell for beginners at 8ft, but for anyone with a bit of experience, this is looking like the best session of the whole run. Clean, offshore, decent size, and long-period energy. Crowds could be a factor here, though, as it’s a spot that rarely breaks, so when it does, the word gets out.

Further out, August 7th, Friday morning also looks promising. We’ve got a 6ft SW swell with a very long 18-second period and a clean offshore wind from the NNE. The energy is 2053. This is a proper groundswell, and it will be breaking clean and lined up. It’s a bit smaller than the 4th, but still a great prospect. Just remember, with that super long period, it might be a bit straight at the beach, but the offshore wind should keep things tidy.

So, to wrap it up: the first few days are for the brave only. The real sweet spot for a good, challenging but doable session is Tuesday the 4th of August. The second week has a couple of promising flickers, but the 4th is the main event. Keep an eye on the forecasts, because a spot like this can turn on a dime.

Stay stoked,
Rusty.

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