Fairhaven Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's get straight into the local outlook for Fairhaven. We've got a window of opportunity, but it's not all smooth sailing. We start with some solid, clean conditions, then we get absolutely hammered by a massive swell that's far too big for this spot before it settles back into some really nice, clean waves towards the end of the run.

The first few days of the outlook, starting Monday the 20th of July, are looking pretty sweet. We’ve got a 4ft groundswell from the WSW, with a long 16-second period, which is packing a punch of moderate energy (721). The wind is a clean cross-offshore breeze, so the surf is set to be smooth and lined up. This is a nice, mellow start for the beginner-friendly break, though it does break inconsistently, so you’ll be picking off the sets. The water temp is about where you’d expect for this time of year.

The swell builds through Tuesday the 21st, hitting 6ft from the WSW, and the period is still a solid 13 seconds. The energy jumps up to (1077), and with that same clean cross-off wind, the surf is going to be really good. It’s still in the fun-size range, but it’s starting to have some push.

Then we hit a dry spell in the middle of the week. The surf gets a bit messy, and there’s a 5-day stretch from Wednesday the 22nd of July right through to the 26th where the swell is just too big. It’s not that the waves are bad, it’s that this break is a beginner spot and the swell is going to be over 8ft. We’re talking 13ft to 16ft groundswells from the SW with massive energy readings (12,951 to 17,490). That's expert-only territory, and even then, it's gonna be a washing machine out there with cross-shore winds. For a beginner break, this is a no-go zone. It’s the kind of setup that might be better for the kite surfers than paddle surfers.

The good news is that it cleans up again. From Sunday the 27th of July, we start to see the light. The swell drops back to a manageable 5ft from the WSW, the period is a long 13 seconds, and the wind turns glassy, offshore, and light. We’re talking clean conditions with a light breeze, and the surf is going to be very good again.

The real standout, though, is the run from the 28th of July. The morning of the 28th sees a 6ft groundswell from the WSW with a very long 16-second period. The energy is strong (1721), and more importantly, the wind is a clean offshore breeze. This is the best window of the whole forecast. The waves will have power and shape, and the offshore wind will hold them up perfectly. It’s an excellent session for experienced surfers, and the crowds are often around, so get in early.

The quality continues right through the first couple of days of August. The morning of the 1st of August has a 6ft SSW swell with a clean cross-off breeze, and the afternoon of the 2nd of August is a glassy 5ft groundswell from the SW with a 16-second period. The energy is moderate, but the wind is perfect, making for some really clean, fun waves. The last day of the forecast, the 4th of August, looks like a clean, offshore setup with a 6ft SW groundswell and a 15-second period. It’s a promising finish, but as always with long-range forecasts, it’s less certain.

So, the call is: the absolute best on offer is the morning of the 28th of July. That’s your window. After that, the 1st and 2nd of August are also top-tier, clean days. The rest of the run is a mix of too-big and mellow-but-good. Get on it when you can.

Rusty.

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