I have a friend who is on his first full day in the Maldives, he just texted me this terrific report and I thought I'd share it with you.



Hi
Just had sultan right at 4 ft with some bigger, very similar to Wilkes in Fiji
Started off howling offshore wind storm then after half an hour wind settled, it was quite unerving for a while. Started off sitting on the shoulder and watched break character, then took an easy one to get used to it, after that moved to take off area and got 8 good waves. Some had nice workable shoulder while others fast bowl section , just drive and hang on for 100 meter. Long paddle back
Pasta is blown out rippy and sectioning at 6+
See ya

Sent from my iPhone

Thanks for sharing mate, now I feel like crap.

Haven't surfed for 3-4 weeks...................

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vanders1 said..

Thanks for sharing mate, now I feel like crap.

Haven't surfed for 3-4 weeks...................

Your new Clearwater should be ready any day nowog and hows the art going

anyway off to pump Jim for an hour

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obct said..

I have a friend who is on his first full day in the Maldives, he just texted me this terrific report and I thought I'd share it with you.



Hi
Just had sultan right at 4 ft with some bigger, very similar to Wilkes in Fiji
Started off howling offshore wind storm then after half an hour wind settled, it was quite unerving for a while. Started off sitting on the shoulder and watched break character, then took an easy one to get used to it, after that moved to take off area and got 8 good waves. Some had nice workable shoulder while others fast bowl section , just drive and hang on for 100 meter. Long paddle back
Pasta is blown out rippy and sectioning at 6+
See ya

Sent from my iPhone

Sultans is one hell of a good wave...... Your mate is a lucky bugger

Yeah, Sultans is a sweet wave! Jail Breaks right next door is also awesome... We surfed Jails more than Sultans actually. We were parked up in a boat for for a few nights, just around from Jails, and we did the Dawn Session on empty Jails, 2 days running I think... Plus an empty dawn session at Cokes on another day... 3 surfs per day when it was pumping!

I think I surfed 4 times one day... Cokes - Dawn session, + late morning session... After lunch for a quick session at Ninja's, then late arvo session at Cokes, until dark... That's 4! Oink Oink!

This is the exact boat and support boats we had... Barton's trip seemed to do more yoga and coaching... Our trip was more surf & beer!
One flat arvo, we just hit up the bar at Kandooma Resort, on land. 8 beers later, everyone was very happy!

Food is amazing... see Five Minute mark...
7:15 is the local Aussie guide, Brian... he looks 48... I sh!t you not, he just turned 60!

Amazing boat!

I feel so sorry for your friend obct

Jeepers thats one nice boat. I think it would be great to get some formalised coaching like that for 10 days. I have never had any surf coaching yet when I used to play tennis and squash I was getting coaching twice a week. It sure looks like a great trip. I have never done any boat trips - always land based attacks - as I hate the thought of being in a confined space with a few idiots and having no where to go to escape. Looks like that would not be the issue on that boat.

Hows yr mate going ob? Hope he is getting more of the same.

Ted, we had 3 boats, with "that boat"^.

The Mother Ship, the "Carpe Diem" - some 120 foot long...
The Dhoni, the main tender - 35 foot long
The Dinghy / Run-about - 15 foot long

Basically, the Mother Ship parks in deep channels. Often, you can just jump off the back, and paddle about 200-300 metres to the surf.
The Dhoni takes the main crew of surfers to a different break.
The Dinghy takes about 1-4 surfers, and you can run around the a different peak again, or just get dropped off to the nearest peak, to save you 300m of paddling... Or get picked up...

Some of the ships crew sleep on the Dhoni.

The mother ship has 4 Levels;
1 - below deck sleeping
2 - deck level sleeping, & lounge room, and Main Kitchen, plus Front & Back Decks
3 - Upper deck Penthouses, Main Bar, Dining, plus front & back decks, plus of course, The Captain's Helm.
4 - Roof Deck with spa!

You actually get lonely at times on this ship!!

Plus it has the pool deck off the very back... Biggest pool in the world!
Pool deck; & fishing deck...

This is the Front Middle Deck & helm. There is a Main Deck under it, and a Roof Deck over it.
I'm standing in the external stairs which drop down to the Main Front Deck, infront of the Main Lounge Room (with A/C).
(I'm taking the photo)



This main ship is behind me (surfing).
You can see; Pool Deck, at water level, Main Rear Deck, Upper Rear Deck which is the dinning area, and Roof Deck. 4 Levels!




Someone else's Dhoni; 25 footer... Ours was a 35 footer...

Simondo - you have me convinced.....I now just need to find someone to fund it for me

This year there is no surf trip for me as I am busy doing some teaching in the second semester and in Dec I am away with work. So it looks like it will be next year before I can pull something like this off. I am hoping to drop into the Pipe Masters though for a few days on route if all goes well - so no complaints

Ted, just the back pool deck is so huge, you could stow away under the board racks, under the board covers, eating left overs... And you would still have a great trip!!!

This is this boat, and Dhoni Tender.
Gives you a view of those front deck areas too...
There's a little dinghy tied to the back too... You can see half of it.

Oh, this shouldn't be called a "boat trip". It is more like a Small Luxury Cruise Ship...
Beer is "on tap" on the keg at Restaurant Level...

There's also a micro desalination plant on board, so no bottled water / no pollution from PET bottles...
Beer kegs are also recycled/refilled obviously.
Stacks of fish are caught and eaten along the way...
So it's even partially environmentally friendly!
Except for the diesel bill!

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Simondo said..
Beer is "on tap" on the keg at Restaurant Level...

This was what finally got me

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Ted the Kiwi said..

Simondo said..
Beer is "on tap" on the keg at Restaurant Level...

This was what finally got me

It's Lion Beer from Sri Lanka. Quite nice. No different to a Singha crossed with a Stella, that high volume pilsner lager style... Goes down real nice with the tropical sunsets!

Update


Hi
Sat and Sunday we had good surf at pasta point early still 4-6ft but clean without the strong wind today we just had an early but swell dropped to 1-3ft still side shore
Maldives is the most exciting and intimidating place to surf totally different waves to Sydney. On the bigger days every time I paddled out I had a knot in pitt of stomach and adrenaline running overtime extremely challenging
See ya

Sent from my iPhone

I two messages from him today

He's doing better surf reports than most of us do when we go a mile down the road

Message 1


Good surf yesterday after lunch 2-4ft constant paddle against rip. Woke this morning to thunderstorm and howling wind n overcast no early surf . Breakfast now n see If better then. Surf guide said this weather is usually in June and early July

Bye

Sent from my iPhone

Message 2



Finally, tropical weather after storm, sunshine no wind to speak of and 2-4ft perfect waves long wall only drawback was the crowd factor at 12 guys. Chocolate , nut bar , rest and a cup of tea and will do it all again after lunch . Wat are you commoners doing back in Sydney?
my iPhone

What a prick

Yes Ted, I've already told him what a lucky bastard he is.

His next surf trip will be to Taiwan, with a bit of luck, it'll be crap the whole time

got a couple more reports today, sounds like those Brazilians aren't too popular (strange??? on most women I find them very popular)

Hi

Last full day here raining and windy , surf not good. Back to room and wait till later
Yesterday one of the guys surfing sultans had an altercation with an aggressive Brazilian that dropped in on him
Seem to hear lots of similar stories about them....no manners and bad attitude


Storm cleared and we had a great surf after breakfast . Lunch now and maybe another surf afternoon
Same conditions and "crowd" of 12 guys


Sent from my iPhone

Any more updates? I'm off to pasta point next friday, fully frothing and can't wait.
This report has me foaming at the mouth.

He's back back now but I haven't seen him as yet, I'll probably catch him tomoz and get the news direct and pass on any good gos. Below is the last report he sent, it wasn't very inspiring, so I didn't post it straight away.



Last surf check before leaving at 12pm today . Low tide very fast 3ft not really makeable , only have limited time for surf before we need to pack and get ready.........maybe a quick surf in a little while after tide change
Bye and see u Fri

Sent from my iPhone

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Razzonater said..

Any more updates? I'm off to pasta point next friday, fully frothing and can't wait.
This report has me foaming at the mouth.

Enjoy!

I am glad he back obct - I have had enough of his surf reports

Mr Razzonater - hope you have a good time and don't forget to post some pics!

Will do I'm takin Mr New vanguard, haven't been in the water much last couple months with work flat out.

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Ted the Kiwi said..

I am glad he is back obct - I have had enough of his surf reports

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Ted the Kiwi said..

I am glad he back obct - I have had enough of his surf reports

Mr Razzonater - hope you have a good time and don't forget to post some pics!

Ted

Just to add insult to injury, my mate has gone and sent me this pic to really rub our faces in it.

More pics please!