May 14th 2024: Indoscovery

Travelling around the Telo Islands searching for waves is a dreamy existence, especially aboard the Mahogany, which was designed exactly for this. The 27m long custom-made pinisi-style boat has 20 berths, five hangout spaces, an aluminium tender with two 150 horsepower engines and a runabout for ferrying surfers into the lineups.

We’ve surfed so many picturesque waves – the stuff of schoolbook doddles. Rock pinnacles and setups breaking into remote sandy beaches – we’ve had a great run of swell and have barely seen another boat. I can’t believe how few people are up here. Most of the waves don’t have names and that’s kind of the way it goes in the Telos. Surfers like our guide Scuzz, who has been searching, this area for almost 30 years now, is an advocate for keeping the spirit of discovery alive. He also reckons there are many more waves still to be discovered here.

Today, as you read this, we’re into Day 13. We have a new swell arriving for our last day out on the islands, so hopefully right now, we should all be scoring a long lefthander on a remote island reef that doesn’t have a name.

The days have melted into each other. Our memories are a torrent of moments in the waves and laughter with the crew. It’s been a good vibes only trip – they’re the best kind – just stoke and appreciation for each day out in paradise.

See you at the beach … Derek

PS I’d like to say a huge thanks to Scuzz and the entire crew of Sumatran Surfariis for making this trip possible and making it so epic. The food is amazing and the crew so helpful in every situation. If you’re thinking about your own dream trip up this way, then they’re the best in the business.