Raneika Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right then, let’s have a look at what’s cooking. We’ve got Raneika Beach, a reef setup, on the table for the next couple weeks. The water is sitting at 54°F, which is a bit colder than normal for this time of year – you’ll want a decent wetsuit, no doubt about it.

This forecast starts out with a bang but it’s a bang for experienced crew only. The surf shows up proper from Wednesday the 5th of August, with a solid 15 ft swell from the south, period of 12 seconds. The wave energy is pumping hard at 5634. However, it’s blowing a 22 mph cross-offshore from the southwest, and the report flags it as marginal surf. It’s big, raw, and messy for the average punter. Thursday the 6th sees the swell ease to 8 ft in the morning and then a cleaner 7 ft from the SSE in the afternoon, with lighter winds. The report calls it excellent for experienced surfers on Thursday afternoon after the wind drops to a gentle 9 mph cross-off. That’s a solid window for those who know what they’re doing.

Friday the 7th is the standout of this first week. A 5 ft south swell with a very long 16-second period is on the cards for the morning, and the wind is a light 6 mph cross-off from the WNW. That’s groundswell, clean as a whistle. The energy is still strong at 1748, and for a reef break like this, that long period and clean conditions will mean proper, lined-up waves. It won't be huge, but the quality will be head and shoulders above the rest. The only downside is it’s a consistent spot, so expect it to be crowded.

Saturday the 8th holds some 6 ft surf in the morning with clean conditions, but by Sunday the 9th, a strong northerly wind (19 mph) chops things up badly. Monday the 10th through to Wednesday the 12th, the swell drops right off below 3 ft. The energy is weak (under 240), and while Tuesday morning has a glassy-offshore 3 ft swell, it’s really not worth paddling out for. This is a gap of a few days with very little to offer.

Thursday the 13th has a glassy 3 ft ESE swell, but the period is only 8 seconds. Just surfable, and that’s about it. Then Friday the 14th sees a jump in swell size, but the wind cranks up to 19-25 mph from the SSW, and the period is a short, lumpy 5-7 seconds. The wave energy isn’t huge at 324, but the wind will make it a washing machine. Honestly, that setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing.

The second week starts to look promising again. Saturday the 15th shows a big 12 ft NE swell with a 10-second period, but the wind is a strong 25 mph cross-off – only for the brave and the expert. Sunday the 16th, the wind drops to a nice 12 mph offshore from the west, with a 6 ft ENE swell. The report says "expect good surf conditions." That’s a solid Sunday session on the cards.

The real highlight for the second week is Monday the 17th of August. Morning brings a 7 ft swell from the SSW with a gentle 9 mph offshore wind from the WSW. The report says "expect very good surf conditions" with an energy reading of 716. That’s a sweet combination for Raneika. The afternoon gets a massive 13 ft south swell for the experts, but it turns cross-onshore. Tuesday the 18th is the big call for the experienced. A clean, 12 ft south swell with a 12-second period and a light offshore wind from the west. Wave energy is a huge 3358. That’s a powerful, clean, heavy day for the best surfers only.

The window then gradually winds down through the 19th and 20th with cleaner, smaller 7 ft and 6 ft swells. Both Wednesday and Thursday mornings look very good with clean conditions and light wind.

So, to wrap it up: the absolute best bets on offer are Friday the 7th of August morning for that beautiful, long-period, clean 5 ft groundswell, and Monday the 17th of August morning for a punchy 7 ft swell under gentle offshore winds. For the experts only, Tuesday the 18th of August morning is a serious, powerful beast. Get on it.

Rusty.

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