Fairhaven Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. Let’s cut the chatter and get straight into it. Fairhaven is really the only game in this whole 16-day window, and even then, it’s a bit of a tricky beast. It’s a beginner-friendly spot that “rarely breaks,” so when it’s on, it’s a treat, but it’s not a place you can set your watch by. The water’s sitting at 57°, which is a smidge warmer than average for late August, but nothing too wild.

We kick things off on Monday afternoon, 31 August. The swell is 8 ft from the southwest, period of 14 seconds – that’s a solid groundswell. The energy is pumping at 3165 (moderate), but the wind is a light cross-onshore from the SE at 3 mph, so there’s a bit of texture on the surface. It’s surfable, but nothing to write home about.

Tuesday morning, 1 September, sees a cleaner look with a cross-offshore NNW breeze at 16 mph, and the swell drops slightly to 7 ft from the SW, period 15 seconds. The energy is still strong at 2102. The wind is a bit of a gale though, so it’ll be blown out and choppy. Tuesday afternoon is similar, just a touch smaller.

Wednesday morning, 2 September, is a bit of a write-off with a cross-shore wind and a 8 ft SW swell. The energy is 2911, but the wind is all wrong. Wednesday afternoon, however, is the first real standout. The swell is 8 ft from the SW with a period of 15 seconds, the energy is 3199, and the wind shifts to a clean cross-offshore from the NW at 9 mph. This is clean, powerful, and should offer some solid waves. For a beginner break, this is getting a bit stout – over 8 ft, so it’s for the experienced crew.

Now, from Thursday 3 September through to Sunday 6 September, the swell just gets huge. Thursday morning hits 13 ft, and by Thursday afternoon it’s 15 ft from the SW, with energy at 15322 – that’s some serious grunt. The wind is cross-shore, so it’s going to be a mess. The same goes for Friday and Saturday, where the swell peaks at 16 ft and even 23 ft on Saturday. The energy readings are through the roof (14968 and 29998), but this is way too big for Fairhaven. Honestly, it looks more like a kite-surfing setup than a paddle spot. For experts only, and even then, the conditions are lumpy.

Sunday 6 September morning shows a drop back to 12 ft from the SW with a lovely offshore NNW wind at 9 mph. The period is 16 seconds, energy at 6286. That’s clean, powerful, and again, for the experienced surfer. Sunday afternoon stays clean with a 10 ft SW swell, period 15 seconds, and offshore N wind.

The next week is a mixed bag. Monday 7 September is a write-off with onshore wind and rain. Tuesday 8 September brings a 10 ft SW swell with a very long period of 18 seconds. The energy is 5959, but the wind is cross-shore, so it’s lumpy. That long period means the swell will be lining up nicely at this point break, but it’s not clean.

Thursday 10 September morning is a clear standout in the second week. Glassy conditions, zero wind, and an 12 ft SW swell with a period of 19 seconds. Energy is 7424. This is groundswell perfection – very long period, clean, and powerful. For experienced surfers, this is the best on offer in the whole outlook, but it’s a week and a half away, so keep an eye on the forecast.

Friday 11 September morning is also glassy, with an 8 ft SW swell, period 16 seconds, energy 3772. Clean and solid, but a notch down from Thursday.

The last few days, from 12 September onward, see the swell dropping back to 6 ft to 8 ft, mostly with onshore or cross-onshore winds, so it’s marginal. Tuesday 15 September morning is glassy again with a 8 ft SW swell, period 15 seconds, energy 2204 – a nice clean option for the end of the run.

Overall, the standout moments are Wednesday afternoon, 2 September, and the glassy mornings of Thursday 10 and Friday 11 September. The middle of the first week is too big, and the very end is inconsistent. Not a classic run, but there are windows for the dedicated.

Rusty.

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