Raglan-Manu Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s lining up for the next couple of weeks.

We’ve got a classic setup brewing at Raglan-Manu Bay, a point break that’s known for its long, wrapping walls. The water is sitting at 58°, which is pretty much bang on average for this time of year, so no surprises there.

The action kicks off on Thursday, July 23rd with a clean morning session. We’re looking at a 4ft swell from the WSW with a 14-second period, and a light ENE cross-offshore breeze. The combined energy is moderate at 534, but it’s that clean, lined-up point break feel that’ll have you smiling. Patchy clouds in the afternoon with a NW wind going onshore, so morning is the play.

Friday, July 24th is a write-off, honestly. The wind swings northerly and cranks up, turning the surf into a lumpy mess. Not worth a paddle.

Now, Saturday, July 25th – the ocean is angry. We’re talking a 18ft swell with a 14-second period and a combined energy of 12,355. That’s serious power. But with a 28 mph cross-shore wind, it’s just a big, messy, dangerous beast. This is strictly for the kamikaze crew or the kite surfers, not a standard paddle.

Sunday, July 26th is a redemption day. The swell drops to a still-chunky 10ft with a 15-second period from the W, and the wind turns light cross-offshore from the E. The energy is still strong at 3,665, but the wind is light, making it clean. This is excellent for experienced surfers only – it’s big, powerful, and will be a battle.

Monday, July 27th keeps the good vibes going. A 7ft morning swell from the W, 13-second period, and a clean ESE offshore wind. Energy is 1,397. This is a top call for experienced surfers – clean, solid, and the point will be running.

After that, the swell settles down. Tuesday, July 28th through Wednesday, July 29th offer smaller, clean waves in the 3ft to 5ft range, perfect for a cruiser session. The best moments are the glassy afternoon on Wednesday, with 3ft and no wind.

Thursday, July 30th is a standout. The morning sees a 5ft WSW swell, 13-second period, and clean conditions. The real magic is the afternoon: 5ft swell, but the period jumps to 16 seconds and the wind is dead calm – glassy perfection. The energy is just under a thousand at 991, but the quality will be through the roof.

Friday, July 31st is another beauty. The morning brings a 6ft swell from the W with a 14-second period and light cross-off wind. The afternoon goes glassy with a 5ft swell and a 16-second period. Clean, lined-up, and a crowd is likely given how good the forecast is for this place.

The first weekend of August, Saturday, August 1st and Sunday, August 2nd, sees a solid run of 5ft to 6ft swells with light winds, but the surf is a bit more ordinary and maybe a little lumpy. The real standout window is the Monday, August 3rd morning – a 3ft swell, but the period is a massive 21 seconds. That’s a very long period groundswell. The energy is still 1,294, so it’s punchy. Expect long, walling waves at the point, but it might be a bit straight for the beach.

The following week, from Tuesday, August 5th to Wednesday, August 6th, the swell stays in the 6ft to 7ft range with 16-second periods, but the wind is mostly onshore or cross-offshore, making it a bit messy. Not a total loss, but not the pick of the period.

We fade out into Thursday, August 6th and Friday, August 7th with clean, small, 3ft to 4ft waves and glassy mornings. A nice, easy way to end the run.

The best on offer is the Thursday, July 30th afternoon session – that glassy, long-period, clean swell is a dream. The Friday, July 31st afternoon glass-off is a close second. Get out there.

Rusty.

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