May 19th 2026: Lost in the Indian Ocean

We’re on day six of a 14-day surf trip through the Mentawai Islands aboard my beloved Mahogany. As I write this, we’re anchored right next to a remote reefbreak that has already been described as a favourite by many of the surfers on this adventure with me. 
 
Scuzz, who runs Sumatran Surfariis, is the guru out here. He can skip along the reef on even the smallest waves. It feels at times as though he’s connected to it all on another level – he seemingly never touches or comes unstuck. He’s the master, no matter what the conditions are around here.
 
We are a crew of Kiwis and all-natural footers, but most are from Raglan, so we’re thriving in the lefts. We’ve had a real smorgasbord of waves and have even scored some of the iconic spots with just a handful in the water. That’s usually unheard of when it’s this good. 
 
Next stop is an unknown at this stage. We have a big, blue Indian Ocean pockmarked with bright green uninhabited islands to explore. It looks like paradise in every direction, so it really doesn’t matter which way we go from here. 

See you out on the reef, Derek

PS As I was about to post this, Scuzz arrived back with a broken board – the first I have ever seen for him in five years coming here. Despite the limited numbers, someone from another boat dropped in on him, ending his Ocean Foam board – one he’d ridden for more than 10 years. That’s good value for money, especially considering the type of waves Scuzz rides most days. Luckily, he has a new one ready to go.