Fairhaven Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right then, let’s have a look at what’s on the cards for Fairhaven.

Fairhaven is a tricky spot. It's a beginner-friendly break but it rarely breaks, so when it does, you’ve got to pay attention. The water temperature is about average for this time of year, nothing out of the ordinary.

The first bit of surf worth talking about kicks off Sunday the 26th of July. We’ve got a solid SW swell pushing in at 8ft with an 11-second period. The combined energy is strong (2418), and the wind is a light WNW cross-off in the morning, making for clean conditions. This is proper surf for experienced surfers only, though – it’s too big for learners. The afternoon cleans up even more, going glassy with a NNW breeze, with the swell dropping to a still-chunky 6ft and energy at 820. That afternoon is a real standout for the first week.

Monday the 27th sees the swell back off a bit. Morning is 5ft with a NW cross-off, clean but only marginal. The afternoon picks up a solid offshore NNW wind at 12 mph, and the swell at 5ft is clean and offering very good conditions. That’s a nice session for a stronger beginner.

Tuesday the 28th gets a bit more serious. The morning has a 7ft SW swell, period 13 seconds, and a NNW cross-off at 16 mph. The energy is pumping (2905), but the forecast says it’s marginal. The afternoon brings rain showers and a stronger 22 mph WNW cross-off, with the swell bumping up to 8ft and a 14-second period. Energy is still very high (2289), but again, it’s marginal. This one’s for the experienced crew.

Now, a heads up. Wednesday the 29th is a write-off. A massive 15ft SW swell with a 16-second period and a cross-on wind is going to create poor, lumpy conditions, with insane energy (10362). Thursday the 30th is also mostly poor with cross-onshore winds, though the swell drops to a still-sizeable 8ft.

Friday the 31st is a mix of light cross-shore winds and onshore breezes, with the swell around 5ft to 6ft. It’s all a bit marginal.

Then we get to the real highlight. Saturday the 1st of August is a beauty. The morning has a 4ft SW swell with a very long 18-second period, light NW cross-off winds, and clean conditions. The energy is still solid (1579). But the afternoon is the pick of the entire forecast: a 8ft SW swell with a 17-second period, light NW cross-off, and glassy conditions. The energy is pumping (2936). This is a true standout for experienced surfers who can handle a longer period groundswell. It’s a point break style wave here, so that long period will be a blessing.

Sunday the 2nd of August keeps the good run going. Both morning and afternoon see strong offshore N winds at 9 mph, with a clean 7ft to 7ft SW swell and a 15-second period. Energy is high (2148 / 1834). Excellent conditions.

From Monday the 3rd through to the 5th, the swell drops and the winds get a bit stronger, making it mostly marginal. The only exception is Tuesday the 4th afternoon, where a 13ft WSW swell shows up, but it’s predicted to be too big for the break.

The second week has a couple of promising call-outs. Thursday the 6th of August morning is glassy with a WNW breeze, a 7ft SW swell, 14-second period, and excellent conditions (1908 energy). Friday the 7th morning is dead calm, with a glassy 5ft SW swell. Very good conditions. Then the following weekend into the 10th of August offers some moderate offshore winds, with the swell building back to 10ft on the Monday morning with a massive 21-second period and energy at 7743. That one is a long-range call, so keep an eye on it.

So, the best bet is clearly the afternoon of Saturday the 1st of August. And if you miss that, the Sunday the 2nd is almost as good. The Thursday the 6th also looks very promising. For the rest, keep your expectations in check. Fairhaven doesn’t pump often, but when it does, it’s a treat.

Rusty.

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