2004 Charter Stories
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Year in Summary 2004
What a year! Barrenjoey’s third season complete. By all standards a very good year in the surf charter industry for one and all. Most of the boats had their best season as far as passengers filling bunks. If you stuck to the name spots (Lances, Maccaronis, and the Playground area) there were times of overcrowding. If you call 15 surfers at a break, a crowd. The civil strife in Aceh province kept most boats from travelling to those newer breaks that have opened there in the last couple of years. The Mentawais showed off a few new spots this year. For years we have travelled past these breaks, half tempted, but content of the sure thing around the headland. Now we are surfing them and realising that there is some untouched gold still out there.
The season is now getting longer. I was surfing perfect 4ft Macas by myself in February, after the Barrenjoey returned from its refit in Thailand. Our last trip ended in late November. Only 3 other boats in the whole region and as good a waves in the 3 to 6 ft range as any surfer could wish for, very nice weather, and an abundance of fish. In late December, there were 4’ tubes on offer and no-one around. For now, most operations offer cheaper rates to head to the Mentawais at this time of year. Definitely food for thought to escape a Southern Hemisphere summer. I predict in the next few years, charters will be in demand all year round.
Rumour, this year was rife that the season was very ordinary as far as waves go. Ha! The good old Indian Ocean continued, as she always does, to push those swells up to that magical part of the world. The surf was fantastic. For all those that thought it was a bad year, I guess you were not looking in the right places.
Besides stitching the odd passenger up, Elvis getting appendicitis, and straightening out on the odd heaving barrel, our major mishap of the year was an engine breakdown mid season. This, I am happy to report, has all been sorted and the Barrenjoey will be powered by a 6 cylinder Gardner for the 2005 season.
I am also happy to report, that my wife Belinda is pregnant and we are due for our first baby early January, 2005. Look out for a new deckhand aboard the BJ next year. We are currently in Australia awaiting arrival of said deckhand.
Finally, as news of the devastating tsunamis in the region reach us we would like to offer our condolences and prayers for all the victims of Mother Nature’s might. The Barrenjoey was anchored off Padang at the time of the earthquake and all that was noticed was a weird sea state and about ten fluctuations in the tide. Normally we would have been in Thailand with the rest of the surf charter fleet that heads there every year. By all reports, all boats and people we know who were in the path of these killer waves are safe. I am sure there will be some amazing stories unfold over the next couple of months. The media cries out at the carnage caused by terrorist agendas. In the last few days, Mother Nature has shown us all up. The awesome thing is she will continue to do so long after we are all dust and memories.
We live and work in a wild part of the planet. There will always be an element of risk in this place. No adventure comes on a platter. Our job is to try and make it a bit easier for you, our passengers.
So thanks to all those who supported us this year. It was a pleasure to make your acquaintance. Hope the new year brings a semblance of sanity to you all. We look forward to it all again next year.