Fairhaven Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s cooking at Fairhaven over the next couple of weeks. It’s a bit of a slow burner at first, but there’s a serious pulse of energy coming through if you’re patient and know what you’re doing.

The first real action kicks off Saturday afternoon, July 18th, but it’s nothing to write home about. We’ve got a 6ft SW swell rolling in, but it’s a bit of a messy cross-shore wind situation on a break that rarely breaks anyway. The water temp is sitting at 58°, which is about normal for this time of year, so no wetsuit drama there.

Sunday the 19th is where things start to look up. The morning brings a cleaner 3ft WSW swell with a light offshore wind, and the afternoon cleans up even more – glassy, offshore conditions with a 3ft WSW swell. This is your “get the log out” window. The combined energy (572 on Sunday morning, 438 on Sunday afternoon) is modest, but for a spot that’s rarely on, this is a genuine treat.

Monday the 20th is the real standout of the first week. Morning session has a 4ft WSW groundswell with a long 16-second period and a clean cross-off wind. The energy (721) is solid, and the waves will have that lovely, drawn-out shape. This is the best on offer for the early part of the forecast. The afternoon drops back a bit in size but keeps the quality.

Now, Tuesday the 21st kicks up a notch. Morning sees 6ft SW swell with cross-off wind and a serious energy jump (1161). That’s a bit more juice, and the afternoon holds at 6ft with very good conditions. From here, the swell is building.

Wednesday the 22nd gets interesting, but with a caveat. The morning is clean but small (4ft SW). The afternoon, however, brings a 10ft SW swell with a short 10-second period and a strong cross-shore wind. This is bumpy and messy – more of a kite session than a paddle session, to be honest.

Thursday the 23rd is a no-go zone. We’re looking at 12ft to 13ft SW swell with howling cross-onshore winds. The energy is massive (5095 to 9497), but it’s a washing machine. Leave it.

Friday the 24th is the same story – 12ft SW swell, still huge, still messy. The wind is better, but this break simply can’t handle that much water. It’s too big, even for the keeners.

Here’s the big one. Saturday the 25th and Sunday the 26th are the true standouts of the entire outlook. The swell drops to a manageable 8ft on Saturday morning, with a light offshore wind and clean conditions. The energy (2558) is strong, but it’s not out of control. The excellent surf conditions for experienced surfers are the real deal. Saturday afternoon holds at 8ft. Sunday stays solid at 6ft to 5ft SW with light offshore winds. This is your window.

Monday the 27th offers a solid 6ft to 6ft SW swell with fresh offshore winds, so it’s clean and punchy. The energy (1389 to 1558) is good. Tuesday the 28th, however, goes back to the “too big” zone with 12ft to 13ft SW swell and strong winds. Not for Fairhaven.

The tail end of the forecast, from Wednesday the 29th of July through to Sunday the 2nd of August, has a few gems. Wednesday is a bit messy, but Thursday the 30th is a glass-off special. A 8ft SSW swell with glassy conditions – that’s magic. The energy (1906) is there, and it’s clean. Then Friday the 31st and Saturday the 1st of August are blown out.

But keep your eyes on Sunday the 2nd of August. Glassy conditions again, with a 5ft to 7ft WSW groundswell with a very long 17-second period. The energy (1055 to 2374) is substantial. This is a long-range standout, so it’s a bit of a promise for now, but if it comes together, it’ll be a day to remember.

So, to sum it up: the best windows are Sunday the 19th for a fun little wave, Monday the 20th for the quality, and the big one is the weekend of the 25th-26th for the experienced crew. The glassy session on Thursday the 30th is also a must-check. Fairhaven is rarely on, but when it is, it’s worth the wait.

Stay safe out there.

Rusty

Read more