Raglan-Manu Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, this is Rusty, coming to you from the local line-up.

We’ve got a solid run of quality surf on the way for the Manu Bay area, starting with a bang this weekend. The water temp is sitting right on the seasonal average at 58°, so nothing unusual there—just your standard winter chill.

The standout session of the whole outlook is hands down Sunday morning, July 26th at Manu Bay. We’re talking a clean 10ft groundswell out of the west, with a very long 15-second period pushing a heap of energy in (combined energy at 4075). That’s serious power. The wind is a light cross-off from the ENE, keeping the faces lined up and smooth. This is an advanced spot on a day like this—it’s going to be pumping, so expect some crowds, but the quality will be worth it. If you’re experienced, don’t miss that session.

Sunday afternoon cleans up even more with glassy conditions, the swell drops a touch to 8ft but holds at a very long 14-second period. That afternoon glass-off is a major positive for getting those perfect, walling rides.

Monday morning is another cracker with clean 7ft west swell, 13-second period, and light offshore SSE winds. The energy is still strong (1376). It’s a great follow-up day.

Things get a bit more relaxed through midweek. Tuesday morning has a glassy, smaller 5ft swell, and the energy drops to moderate levels. Wednesday stays small and clean, but the winds start to turn onshore later.

Watch out for Saturday, August 1st. A big 15ft west swell rolls in, but it’s coming with onshore winds and risk of thunderstorms. The energy is massive (7312), but with the wind and lumpy conditions, it’s one for the tow crew only, or maybe the kiters if that’s your thing.

There’s a solid second pulse coming through around Tuesday and Wednesday, August 4th and 5th. The Tuesday morning session (August 4th) stands out with a clean 6ft west swell that has a super long 17-second period. That’s proper groundswell with excellent energy (1668), and light offshore winds from the SSE. The consistency will be there, and those long-period lines will set up perfectly for Manu Bay’s point. Again, that kind of period can make it break a bit straight at beach breaks, but on a point like this, it’s pure magic.

A similar, clean 5ft swell with an 18-second period arrives on Thursday morning, August 6th, with light cross-off winds. That’s another very strong contender for the best of the second week, though being nine days out, it’s a promising forecast rather than a dead certainty.

After that, it tails off into smaller, cleaner surf through the end of the outlook, with several days where the energy is low and winds pick up, making it a bit of a waiting game for the next big one.

For the best of the best: Sunday morning, July 26th is the one to circle on the calendar for the big, clean west swell. The Tuesday morning session on August 4th is the long-range standout for perfect conditions.

Rusty.

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