Raneika Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let's talk about what's on the menu for the next couple of weeks at Raneika Beach.

We start off with a bit of a wait, but the wait is worth it. The good news is that the water is a bit colder than usual for this time of year, sitting at 54°, so don't forget a thicker wetsuit if you've got one.

Thursday, 20th August – We kick things off with a morning session. It's a solid 7ft of southerly swell, but the period is a short 8 seconds, so it's a bit of a windswell, offering up a lot of pushy, lumpy energy. The wind is a cross-off from the WSW, keeping the surface clean. The combined energy is a whopping 1466 (moderate to strong), so it's a powerful but short-period swell. This one is for the experienced crew only – it's a bit too much for a beginner.

Friday, 21st August – Now this is the standout. The morning is clean with a light offshore breeze from the WNW. The swell drops to 5ft, but the period stretches out to a very long 16 seconds, giving it proper groundswell power and shape. The combined energy is still strong at 1447. This is a reef break, so that long-period groundswell will wrap in beautifully. This is the best session of the week, hands down.

Saturday, 22nd August – A solid and clean morning with 4ft of south swell at 12 seconds. The wind is a cross-off from the WNW, so it's clean. The energy drops to 354 (moderate), but it's a fun, manageable size for most intermediates.

Sunday, 23rd August – The swell drops off significantly. Tiny 2ft waves with a strong 35 km/h wind from the NNW. It's clean, but there's no power. A write-off.

Monday, 24th August – Nothing to get excited about. It's clean but small and weak.

Tuesday, 25th August – A glimmer. The morning brings 5ft of south swell at 13 seconds with a light offshore from the NW. The energy is back up to 865 (moderate). It's clean, and a solid option for the experienced crew.

Wednesday, 26th August through Sunday, 30th August – This is a long, flat gap. The swell is tiny, under 3ft, and the wind is often onshore or cross-on. Not worth paddling out.

Monday, 31st August – A bit of a tease. The swell bumps up to 4ft from the south with a 14-second period, but the wind is a cross-shore from the NNE, creating a slight chop. It's marginal.

Tuesday, 1st September – Another standout, but it's a long-range call. The morning sees 7ft of south swell with a 16-second period, and the energy is a massive 2895 – very strong. The wind is a light offshore from the NNW. The afternoon is even cleaner with a slight breeze, still a solid 7ft at 15 seconds. This is for the experts again, as it's a powerful, long-period groundswell that will be epic on this reef. Keep an eye on this one.

Wednesday, 2nd September through Friday, 4th September – The swell backs off quickly. Fun, clean waves in the 3ft to 4ft range for the morning sessions, but nothing special to write home about.

Overall, the window is built around two solid sessions: Friday, the 21st, and that promising Tuesday, the 1st of September. The rest is a mix of average and flat.

Rusty

Read more