Fairhaven Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, it’s Rusty. First things first, this is not a beginner’s window. Fairhaven is right in the firing line for some serious size, with the combined swell energy hitting a massive 5327 (moderate to strong) right from the get-go. The water’s sitting at 57°, which is about average for this time of year.

Thursday 3rd September, morning: It’s already pumping. We’re looking at a solid 13ft swell from the SW with a 14-second period, but with a 16 mph cross-wind, it’s going to be a messy, powerful beast. The energy is huge (5327). This isn’t a day to muck around unless you’ve got plenty of experience. Thursday afternoon stays big at 18ft and the energy jumps to a heavy 17368. That’s big-wave territory.

Friday 4th September is where it starts to get interesting. The swell eases a touch to 13ft in the morning, but the wind swings NW at 9 mph, going cross-offshore. That means clean faces and lines. The period is a very long 16 seconds – proper groundswell that will wrap in beautifully – so expect long, heavy sets with big gaps. Still way too much for a learner, though.

Saturday 5th September is a write-off. That 22 mph cross-offshore wind in the morning is going to howl, and the quality score reflects it. Sunday and Monday stay on the bigger side with onshore winds, so we’re in a bit of a down period.

Now, here’s the standout. Tuesday 8th September. This is the one to circle. The morning has a 5ft SW swell with an incredibly long 18-second period, and the wind is glassy. Absolutely dead calm. The combined energy is 2331 (moderate), but with that period and glass, it will be clean, lined-up, and powerful. The score says it’s excellent for experienced surfers, and I agree. The only caveat with such a long period at a beach break like Fairhaven is that it can be a bit straight, but the quality will still be high. Best conditions on offer in this outlook.

We then get a return of bigger, more unruly surf from the 9th through the 10th, but Friday 11th September and Saturday 12th September look tidy. On the 11th, a 7ft SW swell at 14 seconds meets a light 6 mph NE cross-offshore wind – clean, punchy walls. The 12th is even better wind-wise, with a true offshore from the NNW at 9 mph, grooming a 6ft SW swell at 15 seconds. For those two days, the combined energy sits around 1400-1500 (weak to moderate). Good, solid, clean surfing.

Into the second week, it’s more of a pick-and-choose game. The 16th of September morning shows a 7ft SW swell with a 15-second period and a light NW cross-offshore wind (clean). The 17th has a clean offshore morning with 8ft SW swell. And then, the final standout: Friday 18th September. This is promising. A 10ft SW swell at 16 seconds, with a 16 mph offshore NNW wind. That’s a big, clean, offshore day. The energy is 4234 (strong). If it holds, it will be a proper session for the experienced crew, but remember it’s a long way out, so check closer to the date.

Overall, this is a swell-heavy period with a few gold windows. The real winners are Tuesday 8th September and Friday 18th September. Crowds are “often” a thing at Fairhaven, so get in early.

Rusty.

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