Fairhaven Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s break down what’s coming for Fairhaven over the next couple of weeks.

We’re starting slow, but the real action kicks in around the 16th. The first few days are a bit of a letdown. Sunday the 16th has a 7ft SW swell with a 14-second period, but the wind is cross-on and the energy is high (1641), but the quality just isn’t there. It’s messy. Monday the 17th has a cleaner window in the morning with a light cross-off breeze and 6ft SW swell, but tide issues keep it from being a standout. The real build-up starts toward the end of the week.

The best bet on offer is Thursday, 27 August and Friday, 28 August. Thursday morning has a 7ft SW swell at 18 seconds – that’s long-period groundswell, and it’s coming in with a light offshore breeze from the NNE. Clean as a whistle. The combined energy is pumping at 3607, and by the afternoon the swell pushes to 8ft with a 17-second period, still light winds. This is expert territory – over 8ft, so only for the experienced crew. Fairhaven is a fairly exposed break, and that long period will make it a proper, powerful wave. The water temp is sitting at 57°F with a 0.9°F anomaly, so about average for this time of year – nothing unusual.

Friday the 28th carries on the theme: 8ft SW swell in the morning, 16-second period, moderate offshore from the NNW. Still excellent for pros. The wind freshens a bit, but it’s offshore, so the faces will be clean. A solid run for anyone who knows what they’re doing.

Now, a bit of a warning: Saturday the 22nd and Monday the 24th see a massive jump in size – 12ft to 13ft SW swell. The energy readings are through the roof (10312 and 9746). That’s way too big for this spot, even with favourable winds. Only for the absolute elite, if anyone. The rest of us are better off waiting for the 27th.

Also, keep in mind, Fairhaven is a break that rarely breaks, so when it does, you want to be on it. Crowds are often here, so for the Thursday and Friday standouts, expect company.

From the 29th onward, things settle back to more manageable 5ft to 7ft SW swells, with some clean windows, but nothing that matches the quality of the 27th and 28th. The 30th has a nice afternoon offshore session with 7ft at 16 seconds – worth a look if you missed the earlier action.

So, bottom line: the standout is Thursday 27 August and Friday 28 August for experienced surfers. Clean, powerful, long-period SW groundswell with offshore winds. The rest of the period is a mix of average and too big. Don’t sleep on that Thursday window.

Rusty.

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