CHARTER TWELVE // 28 AUGUST - 8 SEPTEMBER // 2008
Passengers:
Steve Vallance, Will Powell, Tony Warrilow, Paul O'Connor, Matti Scott, Joel Scott, Ben Sebatian, Ron Bateman, Steve Blakey, Annaye Blakey
Safely back from the latest mission to the magical isles off the NW coast of Sumatra aboard the floating home of family McGroder, aka good ship Barrenjoey!
Our hosts, Captn John, wife and logistics manager Belinda, and bubba tow partner fearless Fynn along with crew Elvis, Yudi, Eric and Bang Bang worked tirelessly to ensure sensory overload, empty perfection and laughs aplenty. This year the visiting team comprised yours truly, eldest nephew and recipient of the "Rookie of the Trip" award after memorable HT's launching Will "Aqua Boy" Powell, fellow "Blindforce" founding member, and brother to Belinda, Steve "deaf in one ear how's the body holding up" Blakey together with daughter and renowned Dolphin Pt charger Annaye who took all in her stride (evidenced by HT's barrel weaving captured on film!). Additional crew members included Margaret River charger and pro-photog Tony "Phantastic Wildebeest El Toro" Warrilow (the only person NOT to take a camera - everyone needs a holiday sometime!), Mexican (well Victorian) and fellow 40's something nurofen sponsored ripper Paul O'Connor carving on another vehicle created by master craftsman extraordinaire Wayne Lynch, plus team Cronulla - jousting identical twins Joel and Matti, the smiling master of the casual late drop Ben and provider of comic relief (when released from the infirmary) Glen who amazed all with his newly discovered surfing skills after trading motor-x and snowboarding for surf only 2 years prior! (Smelly Skater can breathe easy that the discovery wasn't made 10 years ago!!).
The trip had all the right stuff - Will burnt the midnight oil to successfully wrap up uni exams and report deadlines with moments to spare to secure the trip as a 21'st gift, Amanda and lil Jack Adam farewelled us amidst hugs 'n tears 'n hurry homes. Qantas club provided G&T liquid refreshments to calm the pre-flight anxiety. Several hours/movies/G&T's later we left the work/uni pressures behind and enjoyed a night in the luxury of Singapore's Goodwood Park Hotel where my folks treated Steve B, Sheardie and I to a memorable feast only a quarter of a century ago whilst we were en-route to our first taste of the wave fuelled spices of the Sumatran islands. An unscheduled rendezvous with Steve B and Annaye at the bus stop to Singapore's budget airline, Tiger Airways, had us belly laughing amidst a bundle of boards and bags ill designed for bus transport. Singapore vs Sumatra, the Malacca Straights a moat separating one world from an entirely different other, the transition from arguably the most efficient to the most chaotic never ceases to amaze - somehow both function. Tiger are superb however don't be fooled by on-line $10 tickets, total cost is ~$300 once you add plane/fuel/seat/belt/bag/sporting equipment (surfboards) - pay all up front to remove check in angst. Padang - immigrasi, queue for visa, pay $25US in crisp clean notes - smile 'n wave boys, smile 'n wave. The Barrenjoey sign bearer complete with transport and tips for baggage handlers greeted us once customs was successfully navigated. Somehow (a word often used in these parts!) we survive once more the hour long, 2 speed (flat out and stop) hand-on-horn drive through the peak hour Padang maze to keenly awaited ice cold long neck Bintangs and mega sandwiches at Christina's Hotel situated on the salubrious Padang canal development. The rest of the team arrived via Jakarta - meet and greets all round and it was time to board the Joey, run through safety protocols and life aboard ship, select a bunk, weigh anchor and set a course. Almost all points of the compass west of the 0-180 degree meridian lead to world class surf from Padang harbor - John set the helm on W by NW for a morning assault on the fabled Playgrounds, a collection of picture postcardesque tropical islets complete with blindingly white coarse coral sand beaches, thick groves of coconut laden palms and surf on all fringing reefs. Motor sailing through the night we awoke to the familiar sound of the anchor chain running through it's hawsepipe and we're greeted by an oily clean ocean the likes of which can only be found in the equatorial doldrums.
First get wet, a fun 3-4' right hand peak - a perfect reintroduction and a great way to wash off travel fatigue. Unleash the 5'8" flying fish quad - yeehah! From here we traveled north, and for the next week were amazed by the set-ups and sheer beauty of the island chain.
Everyday day delivered a variety of waves in the 3-4' range with several days pushing sets overhead. The potential of this area when a solid swell is pushing in would be phenomenal. A major bonus is the lack of other operators - we only saw 2 other surf charter boats the entire time we were up there so were able to enjoy the solitude that these trips should be all about.
With 3 days to spare the signs of a solid swell started to show well to the south - John started roaming the decks muttering about his beloved HT's and the fact that if we motored south we could enjoy several days of the new swell or stay put and maybe get only 1 day at best - easy decision, up anchor, motor south for 14 hours plus and we're in the channel at HT's! Sounds simple but the effort that John, Belinda and the crew put in to getting us to the best waves day after day was just phenomenal.
Sure enough as John predicted the swell arrived, the office started to fire and John put on a show of how the HT's barrel should be ridden. Special mentions go to Steve B for taking on the peak and pulling in to all on offer in a semi-crippled state, Will Powell for hurling himself over the ledge, making it on several beasts and getting back out there after washing across the reef with his tail between his legs, Wildebeest Warrilow for charging through "one of the best barrels of his life", Annaye for showing no fear and slotting a similar tunnel, Paul for keeping me company across the inside bowl and all the lads from Cronulla for having a "Blindforce" style red hot crack!
Asia, paradise you still haunt me...
John, Belinda, Fynn and crew of the beautiful Barrenjoey.
We had an awesome time.
Terimah Kasih Banyak.
Stay safe and look forward to reconnecting soon.
Steve Liberty V.
CHARTER ELEVEN // 15 AUGUST - 26 AUGUST // 2008
Passengers:
David Ryan, Ben Hardy, Mark Neumann, Jon Hastings, Aaron Williams, Dean Andrews,
Glen Nattrass, Scott Kennaugh.
We had a real search on our hands. Sort of went off the beaten track for a while and found Aaron's A-Frame. Mark did not stop fishing, and telling stories the whole trip. Also found the waves to his liking. Johnny thought he was at J Bay on one session. Ben loved the lefts when we found them. Dave kept out surfing everyone. Deano smashed all his boards with pure powerhouse surfing. Glen threw the nugget around like there was no tomorrow. Scotty and Aaron threw buckets. The Gods must be crazy as they gave us enough swell and variety to last the laughs.
CHARTER TEN // 2 AUGUST - 13 AUGUST // 2008
Passengers:
Nick Roberts, Sam Church, Wylie Fowler, Ian Wolfe, Luke Palmer, Ivan Ripic, Glenn Pringle,
Sam Payne, Simon McDonald.
The Cronulla boys were tearing the bags out of the waves for the whole trip. Hands down. Wylie went berserk, went down, kept filming and taking photos, came good, then ripped the bag out of the waves again. Glen's stories were as entertaining as his surfing. Bring back the wallet-back! Sam and Simon were the Odd Couple. An example of 2 blokes having a bumbling good time, even without catching a fish. Good surfers to boot. Nick kept that carve going till he had it down pat. Luke's backside attack was pure power. Johnny was all style. Young Sam was/is on a classic Indo adventure. Wolfey surfing better than I remember. All of us, every single one sorted by the right. Bloody funny trip!!!
CHARTER NINE // 19 JULY - 30 JULY // 2008
Passengers:
Bill Morris, Matt Poul, Sam Lendrum, Blake Wilson, Billy Keen, Pete Mossely, David Stein,
Paul OKane, Pete Taplin, Jay Taplin.
As the best swell of the season this year hit, we took off the beaten track in search of something different. 5 young guys and 5 old blokes and more barrels than you could poke a board into. Matty, Sam, Blake, And Billy all ripped. O&E grommets that rifled through sections and flew over the lips. Cheeky also. Fynn kept them in line. New wave Dave showed his Peahi experience when the waves counted. Irish Paul began pumping in the barrel. Pete went back to his old school hands behind his back style. South Coast legend, Pete T did a fine job rallying the troops as well as showing us how to ride over the foamball. Jay kept up the family tradition of surfing bloody unreal. All our hats off to Barrelling Bill for taking lots of photos to keep the memories alive through the senile year. He even managed to snag a few himself. Please note: these barrels were achieved without the use of jetskis!
CHARTER EIGHT // 5 JULY - 16 JULY // 2008
Passengers:
Steve Mitchell, Jordon Mitchell, Peter Holland, Jack Holland, Tim Dodd, David Singleton,
Dean Dampney, Leo Page, Scott Janney, Michael Sarain.
What happens when you bring a bunch of sandgropers, with grommets that can surf, together with some East coast grovellers and throw the token seppo into the mix? Not to mention some supposed, I am never going to Tow but want to tow surfers. Some big barreling rights that certain individuals who shall remain nameless for now could not seem to find an exit. Fodder for the boys. A photographer that did not have the time or energy to press the bloody button because he surfed so much. A boat lergy affectionatey known as "the Dampeners" (enough to give everyone the shits. that got all and sundry in the end. Some really weird boards with riders that ripped. Some perfect long lefts. Some perfect long rights. Small shotgun barrels. "bloody annoying sunsets" as noted by the Radar. A real pirate, cold beer - what happens?? We all laugh till it hurts.
CHARTER SEVEN // 19 JUNE - 30 JUNE // 2008
Passengers:
Andrew Braund, Jeffery Brooks, Jason Karalus, Paul Kilgren, Andrew Darch, Daniel Baird,
Marko Lemmetty, Conrad Anderson
No rights this trip. Well, nothing significant anyway. Not that that the goofyfooters were complaining. Dachi's free spirit was all over the walls whilst Andy and Dan attacked it with gusto. Hats off to Conrad, who had only been surfing for 3 years and was a man on fire, pushed out of his comfort zone and feeling mighty fine at each sunset. Marko scored the Mahi on the return. Jason and Jeff caught wave after wave and kept all aboard in line, rather aligned. Paul's cutties sliced through the sea. The Bintangs were cold and the smiles were warm and the sunsets always a pleasure.
CHARTER SIX // 7 JUNE - 18 JUNE // 2008
Passengers:
Mick Rose, Marg Rose, Jack Rose, Ron Quinn, Keiran Quinn, Billy Wilson, Kent Ladkin, Forrest Ladkin, Peter Bailey, Aaron Bailey
One of the best trips we have ever done. Family fun at its finest. The surf pumped, but that was only part of the fun. Watching Jack, Keiran, Billy, Forrest, and Aaron's surfing go to new levels of charging, ripping, and tube-riding was a pleasure. Not only that, but they all played with Fynn like he was their little brother. The pride on the old boys' faces (Mick, Ronn, Kent, and Peter) as they surfed with their sons and watched them push themselves and experience the unadulterated joy of the ocean was another high. And Marg - one of the fe non-surfing females we have had on the boat. She fitted in like a silk glove. Mum to all on the trip. No-one was injured, except for Ronn's nine stitches in his head. Well he did play rugby league and we figured it was only a scratch for him.
The smile's were wide, but 13 year old Aaron won the smile award for his stand-up barrel. First ever.
A truly remarkable trip.
CHARTER FIVE // 14 MAY - 25 MAY // 2008
Passengers:
Darren Longbottom, Todd Prestage, Paul Green, Craig Barrett, Matthew Goodwin, Aaron Waters, Dwain Fitzsimmons, Ian Stewart, Craig Sparks, Nathan Rodgers.
CHARTER FOUR // 30 APRIL - 13 MAY // 2008
Passengers:
Scott Hills, Graham Hills, Glenn Green, Cameron Garlick, Gary Barnes, Richard Feledy, Dave Wigney, Ryan Davis
Somewhere different. Without the crowds. It is what we all want. Our aim is to deliver. This trip we did.
From large lefts to ultra hollow rights. Rhino's fish. Moose's new spot. The barrel that no-one caught, but we all saw. Actually there was about 3 new spots. And plenty of barrels that no-one caught. Tow in surfs that gave us all a taste. Cammo's going home to get a license. Fun peaks and late night peaks. Johnny Goodtime contained. Stitches inside and out. Throwback 70's surfers. Shocking beer drinking games. A bunch of longtime mates watching each other still surf was a pleasure to see. The adventure went to the wire as we made our way up the river to meet the plane. Home for a rest!!!
CHARTER THREE // 12 APRIL - 23 APRIL // 2008
Passengers:
Jason "Chucky" Hoey, Daniel "Uncle" Hoey, Paul Barga, Lionel Bance, Antoine Prat, Yoav Kipnes
The Jacksonville Mafia were back. "What would posess a man!" to try and score perfect waves with his mates. The start was great with some fun uncrowded stuff that had the goofy footers in heaven. A couple of Low pressure systems turned the whole chain to hell for a week. Luckily we managed to scratch into one hollow left that had Danny yelling "Booya and Bintang!" Uncle was getting toobed. The boys filled the freezer up with fish. Let the sailfish go. Caught it on film as well as many other antics. Had some fun little tows and great laughs. It was not the biggest waves. But there was a lot of good stuff in between.
