Raglan-Manu Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s coming our way.

We’ve got a solid stretch of surf on the horizon, starting right now. The opening days are where the real action is, with a powerful, long-period groundswell pushing in from the southwest. It’s going to be a proper run of waves for those who know what they’re doing.

The standout for the whole forecast is right now, starting Thursday, July 9th. Manu Bay (Raglan) is the spot. We’re looking at a solid 8ft to 8ft SW swell with a very long 16-second period. The combined energy is strong at 2491, and the wind is a clean cross-off, keeping the faces smooth. The water temp is 59°, which is about average for this time of year. This is big, powerful, world-class point-break surf. It’s a bit much for beginners at this size, but for the experienced crew, it’s going to be pumping. Crowds are always a possibility at Raglan, so get in early.

Moving into Friday, July 10th, the swell drops a touch to 7ft, but the period stretches to 18 seconds, making it very clean in the morning. Still a big day for experienced surfers. Saturday, July 11th, sees the swell ease to 5ft, with a light easterly breeze keeping conditions clean. Sunday, July 12th, is a sleeper – the swell is 5ft, and the afternoon brings a glassy, offshore wind from the NNW, which is a rare treat. The energy is still moderate at 1082.

After that, the surf drops off significantly. Monday, July 13th, and Tuesday, July 14th, are nearly flat, with small, choppy waves. Not worth paddling out. Wednesday, July 15th, is a bit messy.

The next real pulse of energy hits around Thursday, July 16th, with another 7ft SW swell and a 15-second period, pushing the energy back up to 2083. The wind is a clean cross-off again. This is a promising second option, but it’s a week and a half away, so keep an eye on it.

From about Friday, July 17th, the swell fades again, running at 5ft and smaller through the end of the week. The wind is clean, but the wave size is just okay. By Sunday, July 19th, the wind picks up to 19 mph from the east, making it windy and messy. The last week of the forecast from the 20th to the 24th is mostly blown out with strong easterly winds and small, poor-quality surf. There’s a late pulse on the 23rd and 24th that looks big again (7ft to 8ft), but the wind is strong, so it’s only for the hardcore crew.

So, the call is clear: get on it from Thursday through Sunday this week. The rest of the run is a waiting game.

Rusty.

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