Sibon Baru Yacht

Mentawais

Overview

This 62-foot aluminum catamaran, built in 2011, is powered by two Daewoo 220 HP engines for a high end speed of 14 knots and a cruising speed of 10 knots. The twin hull catamaran design provides substantially more space both above and below deck compared to a mono-hull of the same length. The Sibon Baru will be home-ported in Padang taking groups of 8-12 passengers from the Mentawai islands to the Telos. With a crew of four, a captain, a chef and two deckhands the staff is there to make sure you have a great experience both in and out of the lineup. Meals have a mix of Western and Asian flair. Tuna, mackerel and Mahi Mahi are common ingredients and the chef prides himself in serving fresh healthy food.

The Captain of the Sibon Baru has years of experience in the Mentawai Islands and the islands north of the Mentawais’ such as Telos, Nias, Hinakos, and Banyaks. The Sibon Baru is built with the best in modern navigational and surf-finding devices.

 

Unique Accommodations

Accommodations

The 62ft aluminum catamaran is accompanied by a hard-bottom Hypolon inflatable thirteen foot tender powered by a Yamaha 25 HP outboard. Passengers sleep in twin bunk cabins and share two bathrooms with a third up on deck. The interior saloon is air conditioned with the best of the best in audio and visual equipment. There is a water-maker for a constant supply of fresh water. The power system has been fortified to accommodate the entertainment, computer and photography needs of guests sorting images and editing videos.

 

Surf & Seasons

The Surf

Sibon Baru is intimately familiar with the Mentawai islands and those spots further off the beaten track in northern Sumatra such as Telo, Nias, Hinako and Pulau Banyak.From up north to down south the following is a list of better known spots from which to choose (leaving out some semi-secret and un-named spots):

Treasure Island is the crown jewel of the Banyaks, a very long right-hander provides a smooth take off ramp leading into a long wall and hollow inside section. Be careful of “The Claw” at the end that can pinch and not let you out.

Two Palms around the corner is a super fun skate ramp style left hander breaking into a beautiful white sand beach.

Bay Of Plenty has two lefts and a right breaking off the top of a narrow but deep bay. The waves on the outside of the bay (especially the left) can be world class with a tube followed by a long wall. The protected left inside the bay is super fun and non threatening for those who may want a break from the more intense surf in the area.

Asu can be a perfect but heavy left that ends with a “nuclear zone”

Bawa A right reef that breaks way out to sea, with nothing between the reef and the Southern Ocean. A Sunset-like wave over eight feet.

Lagundri Bay is the perfect, barreling right-hander the world knew as “Nias” in the 80s. This is the wave that inspired more exploration into these islands, but it’s still a crazy-perfect wave after all these years, ruler edge and wrapping into the bay.

Rockstars On the island of Nias, in the neighborhood of Lagundri Bay – just another barreling, world-class right.

Nias (Lagundri Bay) During the 80s, the spot that the world knew as Nias was actually the right at Lagundri Bay. This is the wave that inspired more exploration into these islands, but it’s still a crazy-perfect wave after all these years, ruler edge and wrapping into the bay.

Telo Islands There are a number of spots around the island, including the long, bowling Max’s Left, the fun, bowling Max’s Right, a hollow right at GT’s, the longboard-perfect right at Pinnacles as well as Schoolyards, Le Ba, the Bubble and the E.R.

Ebay A perfect barreling left that needs a bit more swell. Very scenic.

Kandui A very fast, challenging, barreling lefthander that breaks from 3 – 12 feet, but is Triple Black Diamond over six feet.

Nokandui A long, hollow freight-train left hander, that needs size and perfect conditions to be makeable.

4 Bobs Short right well protected from most winds, shallow reef.

Bank Vaults Right hander that can be a little shifty, but serves up backdoor barrels. Very heavy board snapping power with size.

Nipussi A very consistent short fun easy right.

Scarecrows Just another world-class lefthander that will satisfy your wildest dreams – and occasionally match your worst nightmares.

Telescopes A long, beautiful lefthand reef pass that is out to sea and exposed, so prone to the wind. A spectacular wave.

Lance’s Left Quality fun long left, very consistent, best with southeast wind. Can be a series of lefts if you want to push further up the reef.

Lance’s Right (HT’s) One of the best right hand barrels in the Mentawai with a couple take off zones. Best with no wind or Northwest wind. Be careful of the “Surgeons Table” and inside area of shallow sharp reef.

Macaronis Voted the best wave in the world by Tracks Magazine and “funnest wave” by Waves Magazine, this left hander is the star of countless surf videos. A hollow but manageable take off followed by a long wall that is often workable, or hollow. Makes the average surfer feel like a super star!

Rifles One of the best rights in Indonesia, a long hollow wall with multiple tube sections. To make the length of the wave you must commit to riding the tube, likes the south swell and light northwest winds.

Thunders A swell magnet and “go to” spot when the swell is small. This can be a fun long walled left with multiple tube sections, but when big provides a “Sunset” like drop that sometimes gets a bit fat and shoulders off down the line.

Rags Left A long barreling wave that turns on during large southwest swells and has been surfed up to 15 feet.

Rags Right This wave has been described as “a formidable opponent to your health, safety, and well-being.” Low tide is out of the question, but on a high tide and the proper swell, this is one of the thickest, hollowest tubes in the Mentawais.

The Hole A fast hollow left with quick take off and hollow end section. Ends in very shallow water, better for advanced surfers.

Get the picture? If there is a landmass poking up above the surface of the ocean in this part of the world, it probably has a coral reef protecting it and a perfect wave wrapping around one end or the other.

 

 

Synopsis:

The Mentawai are chain of islands approximately 100 miles long off the coast of West Sumatra situated just below the equator.  The Mentawais is located in the northern part of the chain less than 85 miles south of the equator in an area encircling the earth known as the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) where the north and southeast trade winds converge. Early sailors named this belt of calm the doldrums because the inactivity and stagnation they found themselves in after days of no wind.

Unlike the islands to the south like Bali, Sumbawa and Sumba which have a distinct dry and wet season; the proximity of the Mentawai to the equator make the weather patterns much less predictable.  Rain can fall any time of year which has created the lush rainforests of SE Asia and the winds can swirl month to month from most any direction; having said that, there are generalities that have been identified over the years with wind, rain and swell.

Given the massive fetch across the Indian Ocean and the Mentawai’s perfect location situated to pick up all swell, the Mentawai has more consistent surf year round than most places do during peak season.   Historical data shows peak season runs March through October with swell in the 6-8’ range 85%+ of days; biggest swells typically most consistent May through September.   November through March sees 5’ on average for 70% of days.

So what does this all really mean?  It means you can score surf in the Mentawai all year round.  If you are looking for the biggest most consistent swells April through October have the best odds.  If you would be happy with head high surf, the possibility of bigger days, hot and clean conditions with very few people around; November through March is an excellent call.

 

Activities

Water water everywhere. Sibon Baru is a custom-made platform for all kinds of ocean activities: fishing from the tender, snorkeling, free-diving, SUP. The interior and above decks areas are comfortable and shaded and perfect for lounging, reading, catching up on movies and TV shows you don’t have time for back in the modern world. Days are long in the Mentawai, and there is plenty time for reading and relaxing. Take a trip into the interior of any island for an unparallel cultural experience!

 

  • Snorkeling
  • Fishing
  • Free-diving
  • SUP
  • Watching movies
  • Relaxing

 

” You made our trip so much better! We would have been lost without ya’ll! Mmmm… good food. Good people. Good waves. Love this place! It will always be in my heart and soul.”
– JC

 

Pricing

2024 Rates

Package Includes:

  • 12 nights / 11 days of stay aboard of Sibon Baru
  • Padang Airport – Boat Airport Transfers
  • Three gourmet meals per day, plus complimentary snacks and fruits as well as drinking water, isotonic, hot drinks, juices, and soft drinks. Plus, one 24-pack of the best local beer per guest.
  • Use of boat’s equipment and amenities, as stand up paddle board, snorkel, fishing gear and speedboats

 

What’s Not Included:

  • Photo Service (always available USD 300/person)
  • Mentawaii Surfer Tax – USD 80 per surfer
  • Airline tickets
  • Travel Insurance
  • Alcoholic Drinks other than Bintang described above, (Passengers are welcome to stock up on beer at local prices prior to departure). If requested a wine list can be forwarded for passengers wishing to purchase specific wines and spirits before departure. A minimum of 60 days notice is required for specific orders.
  • Sibon Jaya also has alcoholic drinks onboard for extra charge