We made it through, and out the back was rough, but at least it wasn’t breaking over the boat. This set the scene for the trip: commit fully otherwise there are dire consequences. 1.45hr into the crossing and the waves got really bad and were hitting us from a nasty angle making it very uncomfortable. The Captain informed us we were heading back – great! Surfing our way back into the harbor, we saw a local fishing boat about to attempt the entry. It didn’t make it and was smashed on the rocks, though no casualties thankfully. Another attempt was booked for 6am the next day and with the storm reduced we made it across to Kandui Villas to be welcomed into an unbelievable level of style and quality, right in the middle of the Mentawais. What a contrast to Padang.
Bank Vaults
We unpacked the kit and the boards raised some eyebrows. ‘They are a bit big for waves like this aren’t they?’ That night the stories started. ‘Last week someone got the point of the board in his eye and it made him blind as the eye went black as it filled up with blood.’ ‘The resort medic his slashed his fingers on the reef.’ ‘Swell is up so there have been considerable lacerations recently.” An interesting moment came when Nick showed a picture of the wave he SUP’d at the Cribber. “Ah – that looks like a decent wave – about 5ft?’
