Raglan-Manu Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s get into it. This is Manu Bay we’re looking at – a classic point break that loves a good SW groundswell. And we’ve got some proper action coming.

The first few days are a bit minor. Wednesday the 12th and Thursday the 13th will have some rideable waves, but it’s nothing to get excited about. The swell is small and the wind is cross-off, so it’s clean but weak. The energy is moderate (234-427). The water’s sitting at about 57°F, which is pretty average for this time of year, so no big deal.

Then it starts to build. Thursday afternoon sees a nice little jump, and by Friday the 14th you’ve got consistent 4ft swell from the WSW with a proper 16-second period, and the wind is light. The energy is solid (834-797). It’s good, clean fun.

But the real standout is Saturday the 15th. That morning is a gem: 6ft of long-period WSW swell (17 seconds), a clean offshore breeze from the S, and the energy is pumping (1749). That’s perfect for a point break. The waves will be well-shaped, with long walls and plenty of power. It’s not for the faint-hearted – this is for experienced surfers. The Saturday afternoon gets a bit messy with a cross-shore wind picking up, so get in early.

Sunday the 16th is another cracker for the crew who can handle it. 7ft of WSW swell, still a 16-second period, with a light SSE wind in the morning. That’s big, powerful, and clean – a proper expert session. The energy is huge (2300). This is the kind of day that gets the heart pumping.

The following week settles down a bit, but there are still plenty of good windows. Monday the 17th is a bit tricky with afternoon onshore winds, but Tuesday the 18th is a glassy dream: 6ft of swell, light SE wind turning glassy, and moderate energy (1122). That’s a beautiful morning paddle. Wednesday the 19th is also glassy in the morning, with 4ft of clean swell. Good times.

The second week sees the swell drop off. The 21st and 22nd are small, with 3ft to 4ft, and the wind is mostly light. It’s surfable but nothing special. The 23rd and 24th get even smaller, with energy dropping into the weak range (105-210). The 25th has a tiny pulse of 2ft with a 14-second period, which might give a few fun runners, but it’s a long shot.

The very end of the window, around the 26th and 27th, is blowy with onshore winds and rain. Not worth paddling out for.

So, the standout is Saturday the 15th, with Sunday the 16th a close second. If you’re an experienced surfer, those are your days. The rest of the first week has plenty of solid, clean waves for the intermediate crew. The second week is a bit of a fade-out, so don’t stress if you miss it.

Rusty.

Read more