Fairhaven Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here.

The only spot on the menu for the next 16 days is Fairhaven, and it’s one of those breaks that rarely breaks, so when it does, you pay attention. It’s a beginner-friendly wave, fairly exposed to the SW swell, and we’ve got a solid run of surf coming up, with a wild finish.

We start on Sunday the 23rd of August morning. The swell is a beefy 8.2ft from the SW, with a long period of 14 seconds, and the wind is a light cross-off from the NW. The combined energy is strong at 3403, and it’s clean. This is good, head-high+ stuff, but at 8.2ft, it’s already pushing into expert-only territory for a beginner spot. Sunday afternoon holds similar size (8.2ft) but the period jumps to 16 seconds, which is very long. The wind shifts to a cross, and the energy is still solid (3174), but the conditions are a bit more marginal.

Monday the 24th brings a slight drop to 6.2ft in the morning, with a 14-second period and a light offshore from the NNW. The energy is 1432, and it’s glassy clean. This is a much more manageable size for the intermediate crowd, and the offshore wind is a major positive. Monday afternoon stays clean with a 5.9ft, 13-second swell and light offshore winds.

Tuesday the 25th sees a downgrade. The swell is 6.9ft in the morning, but the wind is a light cross-on from the SE, and the conditions are marginal. The energy is still moderate (1608), but the wind is not your friend. Similar story in the afternoon.

Wednesday the 26th is a write-off. The morning has a 4.9ft swell, but the cross-shore wind and chop make it a poor call. The afternoon sees a jump to 7.9ft, but the wind is a moderate cross-onshore, and the energy is high (3457), but it’s choppy.

Thursday the 27th is a nice reset. The morning is small (3.0ft, 12-second period) with a light cross-off from the NW. The energy is weak (548), but it’s clean. The afternoon is better: 4.3ft, 13-second period, light cross-off, and clean. Good for a longboard or a fun fish.

Now, hold on to your board. Friday the 28th morning is the standout of the first week. The swell is 8.2ft, 17 seconds (very long period), from the SW, with a light cross-off from the WNW. The energy is pumping at 3782, and it’s clean. This is a proper groundswell. For a beach break, that long period might make the wave a bit too straight, but at Fairhaven, with a cross-off wind, it’ll be a powerful, lined-up wave for experienced surfers. The afternoon gets messy with onshore wind.

Saturday the 29th is marginal with cross-onshore winds. Sunday the 30th morning is a solid 7.9ft, 13-second period with a light cross-shore wind, but it’s a bit lumpy. The afternoon is a monster: 11.5ft, 16-second period, but the wind is onshore and the energy is 6682. It’s simply too big for this break.

Monday the 31st morning is another serious standout. The swell is 9.8ft from the SW, 15-second period, with a light cross-off from the NW. The energy is 3782, and it’s clean. This is big, powerful, and clean. The afternoon is a treat: 8.2ft, 16-second period, and the wind goes glassy. The energy is 3424. That’s a clean, glassy, overhead swell – a rare combination for Fairhaven.

After that, the first week of September gets wild. Tuesday the 1st September morning is a clean 7.5ft, 15-second period with a fresh cross-off breeze, but it's a bit windy. The afternoon is a massive 11.5ft, 14-second period, but the energy is 7988 and it’s deemed too big for the break. Wednesday the 2nd morning is clean with a 6.9ft, 13-second period and a light offshore – a nice window for experts. The rest of the week into the 7th is a mix of 6.6ft to 13ft+ swells, with the 4th and 5th seeing 13.1ft to 14.8ft (energy over 9000) – all too big or too messy for a good paddle surf. The 6th and 7th settle back to 4.6ft to 6.9ft, but the wind is up.

The standout sessions are clearly Friday the 28th morning and Monday the 31st morning and afternoon. The 31st afternoon with glassy conditions and 8.2ft is the pick of the whole run for a surfer who can handle it. The 28th is a close second.

Fairhaven is a rare breaker, and it’s mostly for the experienced crew over the 8.2ft days. Beginners should stick to the

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