Overview

Location

The Bintang leaves from Padang which is on the west coast of Sumatra. Padang has an International airport and there are many flights daily from Singapore and Jakarta. There are also connecting flights from Bali via Jakarta daily. Flights from Bali are a lot cheaper. Adam Air, Batavia Air, Air Asia and Garuda all service this route while Garuda, Air Asia and Tiger Airways service the Singapore route. Air Asia also has a daily flight out of Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia. Cheap airlines are www.airasia.com and www.tigerairways.com. Note that these are budget airlines and have weight restrictions so be prepared to pay twenty or thirty dollars extra for boards.

Luggage will also have to be re-checked. More expensive, but very reliable and good with boards, flexible as well, concerning change of flight: www.garuda-indonesia.com

Transfers to and from the boat are included in the price and don't forget the 3USD/day Mentawai Tax payable in Padang to the agents there.

You'll be met at the airport by a member of The Charter Boat's crew, with transportation provided either to a local hotel, ( 2 Star to 4 Star ), for you to unwind overnight, or alternatively, directly to the boat. The boat normally leaves the harbor between 4pm-8pm.? The cost of the hotel is not included in the daily charter fee, but local rates are relatively inexpensive.

The Surf

There are 4 large Mentawai islands and many smaller islands scattered throughout. The most northerly is Siberut which contains an amazing area of world class in a five mile radius. Also to the North there are the Tellos Islands and the island of Nias.  Here some examples of surfspots...

Four Bobs - This is a small peak for when there is heaps of swell, or guys looking for a mellower option. Mainly a right with a short barrell off the takeoff, but quickly dies off into the channel. There's an even shorter left, but usually not worth the effort.
Rifles - One of the best waves in the Mentawais. A very long right hander that wraps around the other side of the same island as No Kanduis. Rarely makeable from start to finish, but even just from section to section you can get rides up to 100 y ards or longer. Nice and hollow once it's a few feet overhead, but usually more sectiony at smaller sizes.
Icelands - Another consistent lefthander for when the swell is smaller. Usually always has some ridable surf, even when other breaks are flat.
Telescopes - A perfect wrapping left reef. Long walls wrap around the reef with very few sections on larger days. Mostly breaks in pretty deep water, but it can get heavy and shallow on the inside on bigger days.
Scarecrows - Breaks off of an island just south of Telescopes. Good lefts but a bit more less predictable and shifty. It's a short, wedgy wave that works best on a dropping high tide.
Bintangs - A short and hollow right across the channel from Lance's Left. As the wave approaches the reef, the bottom drops out before barreling towards the channel.
Lance's Left - Long left walls wrap down the point before hitting the last section, which is the main take-off area. Great hollow section after the take-off. A gun helps on the larger days.

Accommodation

Bintang comfortably sleeps 13 guests in air-conditioned comfort. The 25 x 20ft saloon has a state of the art entertainment centre which includes TV, VCR, Digital and video play backs of days surfing. We also have a DVD / CD stereo surround sound system. The deck is spacious with a seating area for 16. It is perfect for tropical nights sampling the local cuisine and freshly caught seafood after a hard days surfing.

Bintang has a 30ft skiff which travels at 30-40 knots to get you to the off shore wind fast when conditions change.

It's set up for awesome deep sea fishing day or night. Also a quick transit back to Padang due to any emergency in 3-4 hours. From the skiff, which is a great shooting platform, videos and still shots will be taken of guests.

Free use of all equipment: skin diving, fishing rods & reels etc.

Good to know

Passports
All visitors must have minimum 6 months passport validity from date of arrival.

Visas
Visitors from most countries can get a 30 day tourist visa on arrival for 25 USD. Other options are to apply to the Indonesian embassy in your country for a 60 day tourist visa. A 60 day visa is applicable if your nationality does not allow you to get a visa on arrival, or you want to stay more than 30 days.

Malaria
Bali is considered safe for malaria. All other Indonesian islands have higher risk of malaria and precautions are very necessary on dry land although boats offshore are considered safe. If you leave Bali for other Indonesian islands - be prepared, be safe.

Insurance
Appropriate travel insurance is an absolute necessity for travelling in Bali and to other Indonesian islands. Travel insurance is compulsory, and must include a MedEvac option / lost charter days due to unforeseen circumstances or emergencies.

Surfboards
You are allowed to import 3 surfboards into Bali for personal use. Additional boards will be considered as imports and customs will exact a toll. The price is negotiable - cheap if you are good at haggling the price, expensive if not.

Medical
A comprehensive first-aid kit including medication is available onboard. If necessary, the Bintang can be back in Padang on 3-4 hours for medical assistance...

Schedule

AVAILABLE SCHEDULE 2010
02 July - 13 July
08 Oct - 29 Oct
22 Oct - 02 Nov
05 Nov - 16 Nov
19 Nov - 30 Nov

SCHEDULE 2011
4 April - 15  April
18 April - 29 April
2 May - 13 May
16 May - 27 May
30 May - 10 June
13 June - 24 June
27 June - 8 July
11 July - 22 July
25 July - 5 Aug
8 Aug - 19 Aug
22 Aug - 2 Sept
5 Sept - 16 Sept
19 Sept - 30 Sept
3 Oct - 14 Oct
17 Oct - 28 Oct
31 Oct - 11 Nov
19 Nov - 30 Nov

Rates

2010:
US$ 2.200 per person for 11 nights on Bintang.
Full Boat Cost: US$ 20.000 ( for max 10 surfers )

SPECIAL !!!! Oct - Nov 2010 only US$ 1800 per person
Full Boat Cost  15000 ( max 10 surfers )
8th Oct - 19th Oct
22nd Oct - 2nd Nov
5th Nov - 16th Nov
19th Nov - 30th Nov

2011:
US$ 2750 per person for 11 nights on Bintang or 250 $/night
Full Boat Cost: US$ 25.000 ( for max 10 surfers ), 11th & 12th @ 250$/n

USD 1000 deposit required to guarantee individual bookings.
USD 10.000 deposit required to guarantee group bookings.
Final payment due 90 days prior to sailing.

Charter includes:
- Padang airport transfers
- 11 nights onboard Bintang
- bottled water, hot drinks, sodas, 3 meals a day
- use of all Bintang onboard equipment and facilities: skin diving, fishing rods & reels, TV, DVD home entertainment center and a loud stereo system.
Not included:
- 3 USD / day Mentawai Holiday tax
- alcoholic beverages; onboard available @ modest, regional prices
- visa fee for Indonesia

video & photo documentation by the crew with CD's of trip available at additional cost.