Raglan-Manu Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right, listen up, you salty dogs. Let's break down the next couple of weeks. It's a proper rollercoaster, but there's some proper gems if you've got the patience.

The overall picture is a big, long-period swell trying to sort itself out, but the wind is going to be a pain in the arse for a few days around the end of July. Water temp is just about where it should be for this time of year, nothing to worry about.

The absolute standout, no question, is Monday, August 3rd. We're looking at a solid 8ft swell from the WSW with a massive 19-second period – that's a proper groundswell with a ton of energy (4455). And the wind? Glassy in the morning. That's a potential all-timer at Raglan-Manu Bay. It's a point break, so a long-period swell like this will set up perfectly, not just close out. At over 8ft, this is strictly for the experts. It's fairly consistent, but with that much energy, it'll be a hell of a paddle. The crowds are sometimes a factor, but on a day this size, only those with big cojones will be out.

The next big highlight is the morning of Tuesday, August 4th. The swell drops to a more manageable 5ft, but it's still a long 16-second period from the WSW (1723). A light SSW cross-off breeze will have it looking like a mirror. That's a beautiful, long day of waves for the advanced surfer.

Then Wednesday, August 5th morning is another beauty. The swell holds at 5ft from the WSW, period drops to 14 seconds, and the wind is glassy again. The energy is a bit lower (904) but it'll be a dream to paddle out.

Don't get your hopes up for the start. Wednesday, July 29th is tiny, with 3ft waves. The afternoon gets glassy, so you might pinch a few, but it's real ordinary. Thursday, July 30th sees a jump to 5ft, but the wind is messy and cross-shore, killing the shape. July 31st is a total washout – big, windy, and rainy. August 1st brings a massive 12ft swell from the WSW, but the morning is chopped to bits by a cross-onshore wind. The afternoon cleans up with a cross-off wind, but it's still 10ft and only for the mad men.

There's a dry spell from August 6th through the 11th. The swell is small and weak, with energy values dropping to 155. You'll be hunting for knee-high dribblers. August 12th and 13th start to show some life again with waist-high swells and long periods, but the wind is flukey. August 13th morning looks the best of that late stretch, with a 3ft, 17-second swell (961) and a light offshore breeze.

So, the first week is a battle with the wind. The real magic is in the first few days of August, especially the mornings of the 3rd and 4th. Keep those dates marked.

Rusty.

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