Raglan-Manu Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s coming down the line for Raglan.

Right now, the window’s not looking great for a paddle. The first few days are a write-off. Saturday the 22nd and Sunday the 23rd are just messy with onshore and strong cross-onshore winds, making for choppy, poor conditions. You wouldn’t want to be out there unless you’re after a fight. The swell’s not working with the wind at all.

Monday the 24th sees a big jump in size – we’re talking a solid 12ft groundswell out of the WSW, with a very long 15-second period, pumping moderate wave energy (5752). But it’s marred by a moderate cross-shore wind and a cross-chop, so it’s a marginal call at best. This one’s only for the experienced crew, and even then, it’s a question of tide and timing. The water temp is sitting at 57°, which is bang on average for this time of year – nothing unusual there.

The real standout, the one to circle on your calendar, is Monday the 31st of August at Raglan-Manu Bay. Early morning, we’ve got a 10ft swell from the WSW, with that lovely long 15-second period, and the wind is a gentle cross-offshore breeze from the SSW. That combo is the recipe for clean, excellent conditions, especially for seasoned surfers (it’s over 8ft, so it’s expert territory). The energy readings are high at 4253. It’s a point break that handles a long-period groundswell like this beautifully, but keep in mind it’s *sometimes* crowded – get there early. This is the best on offer, no question.

After that, the surf gets a bit messy again through the start of September, with strong winds and lumpy conditions. Then, another promising window pops up for Thursday the 3rd of September. The morning is looking sharp – a very solid 15ft swell from the west with an 11-second period, but with a light cross-offshore breeze from the ESE. That’s clean and powerful (energy at 4519), so again, strictly for the experts. It’s a big, strong swell, and the long period means it’ll have plenty of grunt.

The week after that settles down into more modest, clean conditions. The morning of Sunday the 6th of September is worth a mention – a nice 6ft WSW swell with a 14-second period and a light cross-offshore ESE breeze. It’s clean, with moderate energy (1334), and the crowd situation is less frantic than the big days. A good option for a less hectic session.

So, to boil it down: the first week is mostly a write-off. The clear standout is Monday the 31st of August and Thursday the 3rd of September for the big, clean, expert-level waves. The second week shapes up for some nicer, smaller windows that are more forgiving. Keep an eye on the long-range stuff – it’s promising but could still shift.

Rusty.

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