Do you want to enjoy some of the world’s best surfing? Do you want to travel to sensational surfing locations in Indonesia’s famous Mentawai Islands in air-conditioned comfort, enjoying great food and top service?

OUR SERVICES

Strictly Business is owned and operated by John Bowden. John is a highly qualified skipper with an open (unrestricted) USL Master 4 (Captain’s qualification). He has many years’ experience on the seas world-wide and is competent in the fields of electrical and mechanical engineering. John is an excellent skipper, a great host and an all-round nice guy. However, he can't surf to save his life!So you think that could be a problem? Let’s think about that. What it means is that John won’t be out there competing for the waves. It means he will be on board, making sure the crew is preparing delicious food for your return. Your skipper will be checking out what is happening wave-wise and weather wise in other areas – in other words, his time is spent making sure YOU have the best possible surfing experience! His four years of experience in the area guarantees that he knows how to do that. The reputation of the Strictly Business operation among surfers world-wide (both professional and recreational) absolutely backs this up. Please visit our references page for additional information.

Surfing Cruises to the Mentawai Islands

Registration: Australia Owner and Skipper: John Bowden "Strictly Business" is a motor-sail catamaran built as per USL Code as an ocean going charter vessel, built on Queensland's Gold Coast in Australia
2 - Mitsubishi 140 hp diesel engines - installed 2001
Length: 58 ft motor-sail catamaran
Steel hull construction with aluminum upper section with eight watertight compartments
Ketch rigged vessel with full electro-hydraulic sail furling
In mast furling for Main and Mizzen. Stainless steel rigging.

Equipment, Electronics and Instrumentation:
Generators: 12 KVA Onan; 20 KVA 3-phase; Onan 6.5 KVA emergency generator (ashore)
HF Radio: Icom Autopilot: Coursemaster - Electro hydraulic
VHF Radios: 3 units Radar: Furuno - Range 36 miles
GPS: 2 units Air-conditioning: 6 split cycle units - water cooled
Water Maker - 300 liters/day PUR Sounders: 2 units
Fire Protection: Fire smothering systems to the engine rooms
Satellite phone & fax: phone: + (873) 761340226 fax: + (873) 761340227charges apply for use of both
Satellite EPIRB: Type 406 (programmed and call sign)
Computer equipment: CD, VCD and DVD players
Safety: Safety is the primary focus for the Captain and crew of Strictly Business. The vessel is comprehensively insured with an Australian / International company and includes full public liability coverage.Strictly Business maintains a 15-person inflatable life-raft complete with flares and provisions.

Accommodations:

Professionally built and outfitted to a very high standard in Australia to USL shipping codes for charter work on the heavy weather Australian coast, Strictly Business is a safe and comfortable fully air-conditioned catamaran.

There are 6 passenger cabins, two single and four twin, to accommodate 10 passengers with a flexibility of sleeping arrangements. Headroom varies from about 2 to 2.2 meters. The main saloon seats ten persons. There are 4 showers / toilets, 2 in passengers quarters and 2 in crew quarters and 1 extra on deck shower. Our galley has just enjoyed a refit and a new stainless steel stove / oven to prepare promised good food. Our galley is also equipped with two large stainless steel freezers, one domestic freezer and one large double door refrigerator with ice box and ample drink storage.

Strictly Business travels at approximately 7 to 8.5 knots, which is a safe speed for night travel. Our vessel departs Padang in the late afternoon to early evening hours and travels through the night to the first break for breakfast. Being a cat hull shi is very stable and passengers usually enjoy a good sleep after their long flights from various overseas and wake up to the pounding of waves early the next morning.

Once in the Mentawais most of the traveling among the islands is done at night. Some locations, such as Lances Left, Monkey Jump, Bintangs and HTs are close together and popular so you may find yourself moving around those by day to maximize the best conditions. The northern area, "Playgrounds", has more than 10 good surf-breaks within a 5 mile radius.

Other on-board equipment:

Our large and fast tender, Avon Inflatable "Waverunner", allows us to check out and move surfers quickly to another break if conditions warrant it. This is for daytime use only. "Waverunner" has a solid fiberglass deep V hull plus a 90 hp Yamaha outboard and a 40 hp outboard spare motor.Other equipment includes two game fishing rods, assorted tackle and hand lines. We have fins, masks and snorkeling gear. Surf board repair tools are available including electric sanders, grinders, drills, wet and dry paper of various grades. We normally have resin and glass on board but it is advisable to bring your favorite.

Reputation and references

Strictly Business enjoys a world-wide reputation among professional and recreational surfers. This is why more and more groups and individuals are returning to enjoy what Strictly has to offer. Strictly Business was chosen as the flagship for the OP Pro competition and carried the male pro surfers for that event - which was won by the remarkable and nice guy, Occy, and by Layne Beachley for the girls. The highlight of the tour was the competition held at “No Kandui” – a temperamental lefthander.

On the day of the comp it was huge and incredibly fast. The guys took it on first and got a good working over and spectacular barrels that went on and on and on. Incredibly, the girls also went for it. They were hammered but also got many incredible barrels for their bravery. Several videos have been produced on board Strictly Business - a popular one being “GANGSTERS PARADISE" filmed by Brook Silvester. The video has some good coverage of both the Mentawais, Strictly Business and lots more. Another first was when Surfing Life produced their magazines on location all on board Strictly Business in the Mentawai Islands. Strictly Business offers loads of fun times, waves to remember, and stories to tell forever – or at least until it's time to come and join us again! So, come on over, surf the Mentawais and be part of the action.

The following message is a testimonial from Mr. Mark Simpson, who recently surfed with us:

"Hi, Just wanted to send you a quick note to let you know what a great time we had on our recent charter aboard Strictly Business. The boat was excellent, as was the crew and the food, etc. Captain John Bowden was the most knowledgeable, amiable, and flat out most enjoyable skipper we've sailed with to date, and I will recommend this boat to anyone going to the Mentawais in the future.The situation on the ground both in Padang as well as in Jakarta on our transfer home couldn't have been more peaceful, contrary to what the American media would have us believe. The Indonesian people were, as per usual, charming, helpful, and extremely friendly. Many inquired if we were enjoying our stay in Indonesia and many also said please come back to visit. I hope that people educate themselves as to the real political situation in Indonesia (as well as other places) when considering to travel or not. You have the support of everyone in our group. Paul, please let anyone know that they are free to contact me should they have any questions or concerns regarding the political climate in Padang, Jakarta, etc. during our visit. I would be more than happy to share my experiences. I can be reached at the above e-mail address or @ 415-381-1090. Thanks again for everything and we'll talk to you soon. See you again next year! Oh, I almost forgot: The waves were insane!

Best Regards,"

Mark Simpson - Hurley Internationalmcjsimpson@mac.com