Fairhaven Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, this is Rusty. Let’s get into it.

We’ve got a bit of a slow start at Fairhaven, but things build into a solid run later on. The first recommendation is for Monday afternoon, the 17th of August, with a 7ft SW groundswell rolling in at a long 16 seconds. That’s a proper groundswell, bringing a lot of energy (2001) but the wind is a light cross-on from the SE. It’s surfable, but clean it’s not. The water temp is 57°, about what you’d expect for this time of year, no real anomaly there. This spot is a beginner-friendly break, but it’s “rarely breaks”, so when it does, it’s worth a look—though on Monday, it’s only fair.

Tuesday the 18th drops off a bit. Morning sees 5ft SW with clean conditions and a cross-off NNE breeze, but the energy drops (1192). I’d call it small and sluggish. Wednesday the 19th is even smaller at 3ft, but we get offshore wind (NNW 19mph) in the morning, cleaning it right up. Still, not much push for a beginner spot.

Thursday the 20th picks up slightly to 5ft SW at 13 seconds, but the wind is cross-off. It’s okay, nothing special.

Now, Friday the 21st of August is where it starts to get good. We’ve got 6ft to 6ft SW at 14-15 seconds, with a gentle cross-off NW breeze. The energy is pumping (1776, 1826) and the surf is clean. This is solid, experienced-friendly stuff. This is one of the standout windows.

Saturday the 22nd, hold up. The swell jumps to 12ft WSW, but that’s too big for this break—this is a beginner spot, and it’s going to be a washing machine. The energy is huge (over 9000), but the wind is onshore and choppy. This is kite-surf territory, not paddle.

Sunday the 23rd is back to a more manageable 8ft SW, clean with a light offshore. Good for experienced surfers, but maybe a bit much for learners.

Monday the 24th of August is another standout. We’ve got 6ft SW, glassy conditions—SW wind at just 3mph. That’s as clean as it gets. The energy is solid (1234). This is the best day for a surfer who wants clean, punchy waves without the crowd. Crowds are listed as “often” at Fairhaven, so expect company.

The rest of the week tails off. Tuesday the 25th is small and glassy in the morning, then turns onshore. From Wednesday the 26th through to the end of August, it’s a mix of small, wind-affected, or rainy. The 28th and 29th are straight-up poor with strong cross-on winds. Not worth the paddle.

Looking into the first week of September, Tuesday the 1st of September is a real gem. Morning sees 5ft SW at a very long 17 seconds, with a gentle offshore NNE breeze. The energy is good (1679) and it’s clean. This is a proper groundswell, best taken at a point or reef—Fairhaven is a beach, so that long period might make it a bit straight, but still. This is the best of the long-range forecast.

So, to wrap it up: Friday the 21st of August and Monday the 24th of August are your top picks for clean, punchy waves with good energy. If you’re looking further out, Tuesday the 1st of September looks promising but less certain. Otherwise, there’s a lot of small or blown-out days in between.

Rusty.

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