Fairhaven Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s get into it. Rusty here, and I’ve been staring at the charts for Fairhaven. Now, Fairhaven is a beginner spot that rarely breaks, so when it does, it’s a bit of an event. But we’ve got a real mixed bag coming our way.

The water’s sitting at 57°F, which is pretty much bang on average for this time of year, so no surprises there.

The first real sniff of action kicks off Sunday, the 30th of August, in the afternoon. We’ve got a solid 8ft SW swell rolling in with a long 13-second period, pumping a heap of energy (2153). But the wind is onshore, light from the SSW, so it’s a bit messy. The forecast says it’s marginal, so honestly, it’s not the one to get excited about. You’d be better off waiting.

Then, Monday the 31st of August is where it starts to get interesting. Early morning, the wind goes glassy, coming from the north at just 3 mph. That same 8ft SW swell is still there, but with a 14-second period, it’s got more grunt and the energy is up (2718). The conditions are described as excellent for experienced surfers, which is a big call for a beginner break. It’ll be clean, but at 8ft, it’s pushing the limits for a learner. The afternoon goes cross-on, so grab the morning session.

Tuesday through to Wednesday morning has solid swell, but the wind picks up to a fresh 16 mph cross-off, keeping things clean but a bit wild. The swell drops slightly, but it’s still a decent size. It’s marginal, though.

Now, here’s the big one. From Thursday the 3rd of September, the swell absolutely cranks. We’re talking 13ft to 18ft of SW swell, with energy readings going through the roof (10,563 and 18,472). The period is 13-14 seconds. The wind is cross, at 12 mph. The file flags this as too big for this break. And it’s right. For a beginner spot, 13ft is already too big for most, and 18ft is for experts only. This is where the break really shows its cards—it’s not going to handle that size well. The wind and tide are favorable, but the swell is just too much. Honestly, this looks more like a kite surfing setup than a paddle session. The cross-shore wind and massive swell will be a full-on mess for a surfboard.

That huge swell hangs around for a few days, with 12ft to 15ft waves through to the 5th of September, but the wind on the 5th afternoon goes to 25 mph, creating a strong cross-shore chop. Not good.

The standout window? It’s the morning of Monday the 8th of September. After all that chaos, the wind drops to a glassy 3 mph from the WSW, and we’ve got a 10ft SW swell with a 14-second period (energy 5201). The conditions are rated excellent for experienced surfers. This is the one. The swell is still big, but it’s clean, glassy, and has that long period groundswell energy. It’s a bit big for beginners, but for anyone who can handle it, this is the best on offer.

After that, the swell stays solid through the 9th and 10th (13ft to 15ft), but the wind turns cross-on, and it’s just too big for the break again. The 11th of September afternoon sees it drop back to 8ft, with a light cross-off breeze, and that’s another good session for experienced surfers.

The final run from the 12th to the 14th keeps the swell around 10ft to 15ft, but the wind is variable. The morning of the 14th has a 15ft SW swell with a 14-second period, and a clean offshore from the north at 9 mph. Again, it’s big, but it’s clean.

So, the best on offer is the glassy morning of Monday the 8th of September. That’s your standout. The second shout is the morning of Monday the 31st of August for a cleaner, smaller session. The rest is either too big, too windy, or just marginal for this spot. Remember, Fairhaven rarely breaks, so when it does, you’ve got to pick your moments. Expect crowds, as it’s often busy when it’s on.

Rusty.

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