Passengers: David Campbell, Shane Leach, Scott Allen, Brett McEnallay, John West,
Grant Taylor, Gavin Buchan, Andrew Simmons, Guy Moffat, William Martin.
Story to come ...
CHARTER FIVE // 3 MAY – 19 MAY // 2013
Passengers: Steve Blackmore, Conner Blackmore, Rob Couriel, Graeme White, Scott White,
Andrew Read, Tim McGurgian, Mark McGill, Stu Cranch and Tom Leach
Well as always this trip was in the planning before we got off the BJ from the last trip. 15 days and heading north to try out some new waves and scenery. With a group of guys that know the BJ well and 3 newcomers off we went and no one was disappointed with the location or the quality of waves. We even took Scott along with his boogie board so Jason (Skipper) didn't feel like he was the last man standing. Everyone had a great time and for some of us it was a chance to catch up with John and B, see how Fynn has grown and to meet Duke. As always the next trip is in the planning. - Steve
CHARTER FOUR // 20 APRIL – 1 MAY // 2013
Passengers: Matt Bryrmilont, Kurt Nyholm, Dale Farmilo, Grant Goozee, Matthew Stewart,
Brad Loch, Dylan Loch, Peter Myers, Lucas Goodchild, Nathan Marks, Peter Horton.
CHARTER THREE // 6 APRIL – 17 APRIL // 2013
Passengers: CANCELLED!
Officially not ours….but we helped out a mate TONY (DORIS) ELTHRINGTON,
lent him the Barrenjoey…..and he made international news!
So many stories were written……even made 60 minutes http://sixtyminutes.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=8664308
CHARTER TWO // 25 MARCH – 5 APRIL // 2013
Passengers: Eben Kelk, Colin Heighes, Paul McMullen, Ryan Bellingham.
CHARTER ONE // 12 MARCH – 23 MARCH // 2013
Passengers: Jason Quinn, Neil Croft, Les Croft, Rod Bywaters, Tim McGroder,
David McGroder, Justin Smidmore, Rene Strehler, Nathan Beswick, Mark Meddows.
CHARTER NINETEEN // 9 DECEMBER – 16 DECEMBER // 2012
Passengers: Tow Pete, Chuck, Jay, Tim, Ash and Jill
It was only a short family trip with the Tappos. Short, sweet and so bloody good.
We could talk about jay’s 30th birthday, the 30 Kg fish, well, barracuda. Still a massive effort. Surfing perfect head high Maccas by ourselves.
We could talk about the girls, Jill and Ash scoring their own little beachie and only having to surf it with Fynn and Duke. Or Anne’s relaxing sojourns to the various beaches with said book to just peruse the scene under a coconut tree.
We could talk about PT and Capt’s massive tow session out at Rifles. Or B’s first trip with other ladies and having great babysitters in the girls and boys – Fynn and Duke miss them very much!
We could, but that would be revealing the best kept secret about the off season!!!!
CHARTER EIGHTEEN // 15 OCTOBER – 28 OCTOBER // 2012
Passengers: Steve Vallance, Tony Warrilow, Andrew Myors, Bruce Taper, Peter Langworthy, Nathan Langworthy, Ian Blake, Michael Dowling
G’day All. Just a quick note to check that everyone has settled back into life on terra firma after what can only be described as an epic adventure cruising the magical Mentawais aboard the good ship BJ.
Thanks to all for making the trip what it was – great to share times, yarns, laughs and waves with friends old and new. Good to see everyone having a decent “crack” – and always a treat watching the Capt’n putting on a show of how to thread the “corridor” at the Office!
Many thanks also to the important others in your lives for supporting the trip – it’s a special understanding and I hope you’re spoiling them in appreciation!
To those amongst us who haven’t been on other charters I can guarantee the BJ experience is unlike any other surf charter trip thanks entirely to family McGroder and their extended family, the crew of the BJ.
John, B, Fynn and Duke – as always, thankyou so much for opening up your lives, world and home to us. The effort you put in to making these trips unique is astonishing and hugely appreciated.
A few of the Many Classic Moments:
• The cast of committed characters – it’s easy to come up with reasons not to go! 10 was the option, 8 signed on.
• First gathering over beers Jakarta Airport Hotel – friends old & new unite – stoke is in the air!
• Padang post several beatings at the often-times apparent cruel hand of Mother nature – wounds licked, life goes on, the Indo spirit holds the line.
• Padang crab fest, re-connections with family McGroder
• Back on board the BJ, can the welcome of the crew be any warmer?
• The crossing, fair winds calm seas
• First Port of Call, “The Office” - Captn’s call in the pre-dawn half dark……..we’re going to get smashed!!!
• Day 1, 3-10’ Lances. Little water time and jet lag is not an ideal prep!
• Unleash the Beest – Tony W, first in…last out. What better way to celebrate a milestone birthday!
• Capt’n John and the legend of BIG RED – vertical drops on a 9’2”, tube time drifts to the ridiculous
• All having a dig in intimidating surrounds, smiles abound as all do reef/beach n back circuit.
• B & Fynn, wheelhouse schooling & hands on education “island style”
• Duke, constant source of entertainment, Lizard Lounge launching….”ekuse me wots your name, do you know me?, ahahahahah!”
• An (over) abundance of food, bintang, water, sprite, coke, juice????? Standing By!
• Southern sojourn – empty perfection, pocket rockets, long rippable walls, picture postcard settings – surfing as it should be – pinch yourself – it’s real!
• Thuderstruck! Oil slick smooth perfection.
• MiniMaccas
• The Batmans Secret Hideout
• Criss-crossing the Icelands channel & abandoning the BJ under Captn’s orders to swim to the BL
• Rifles, late afternoon taste – can only imagine it at 6’ and beyond………..
• Playgrounds in Paradise – some think Gingers, some think Mary-Anne’s….it’s all here on Gilligans Isle
• Adventure at every opportunity
• Captain McGroders limitless energy, constantly setting the standard, leading by example
• 5 minutes, 5 minutes, BOAT LEAVES IN 5 MINUTES….where’s that young bloke???….sleep when you’re home……QUIT YOUR WHINGIN’!!!!!!!
Stay Safe, Keep in touch & Keep Surfing……it’s good for ya!
Hi everyone,
Thanks for the email Steve – since I’ve been home I’ve been struggling with words to adequately convey my thoughts about the trip and I think your summary and subsequent emails from everyone else beautifully sums things up.
I’ve been left with so many enduring memories/feelings of my first trip to the Mentawais but perhaps the most prominent are:
• I was struck by how isolated the Islands are and how quickly the boat you’re on becomes your world and the people on board your family. I feel blessed to have been on board the Barrenjoey and to have experienced the skill/knowledge of the skipper, the fantastic care provided by the crew and the mateship, humour and inspiration provided by the ‘passengers’.
• The complete sense of freedom you get when you’re out on the water. I don’t think I’ve ever felt as carefree as the time when we were on board the Bynda flying back to the BJ after a fantastic session at Lighthouse. Cold beers in hand, smiles all around and the glow of the sunset enveloping us. I now know John wouldn’t have been too carefree at that time though!
• How hard you blokes charge! After witnessing your desire to surf, willingness to put yourselves deep inside and your skill out in the water I seriously questioned whether I could legitimately call myself a surfer. I now know that surfing 1 foot, wind-blown Trigg slop doesn’t qualify!
• How depressed I felt when I had to leave the BJ early and watching as you motored off to another adventure and more uncrowded perfection! (Made Mum’s 80th though which was fantastic!).
I’ve got some raw video footage of a few sessions which I’ll have a crack at editing and send out to everyone.
I want to go back and I hope we can do it again sometime soon!
All the best, Mick.
Thanks for the wrap up Steve.
Still a bit numb from the whole experience to be honest. It was a real treat to be on the BJ with John and family and certainly made for a great time out of the water as well. As you know, according to the captain, we hardly surfed so there was plenty of time spent on the boat.
I am getting to work nice and early since I’ve come home although Louise isn’t that happy with me channeling John and yelling at the kids to go out and play in the dawn without eating breakfast or going to the toilet….still its amazingly effective in tiring them out so they go to bed early.
If you have got a high-res shot of the Lighthouse picture I would love to have it….I think I can see john doing his solo session of the BJ2.
Hope everyone is well and Mick made the big 80th.
Regards, Bruce
CHARTER SEVENTEEN // 30 SEPTEMBER – 11 OCTOBER // 2012
Passengers: John Cremerius, Samual Durkin, Jarrod Morehead, Matt Sherlock, Corey Walter, Kane O’Sullivan, Adam Gould, Alex Windshutle, Matt O’Sullivan, Bradley Woods
Everyone boards the Barrenjoey with dreams of perfect surf and a break from their reality.
These young guys climbed aboard fully bearded and it felt different. Needless to say, the surf pumped, the boys charged and the fishing reels whirred. Everytime a sea eagle turned up, comments went through the line-up. You see, Kane and Matt O’Sullivan are hard charging lads from Thirroul on the NSW South Coast. The whole crew had grown up there and some had moved into various fields of the maritime industry; oil and gas, superyachts and fishing. All were good surfers. All were true fishermen. Turns out all had been natured by Kane and Matt’s dad, Ned. Ned was a guest on the Barrenjoey in July when Tigerbone Taylor took the charter. Charter 10. There is a photo of him holding a GT with Coma. Ned went home, went skiing, hit a tree and was dead before they made it to the bottom of the hill. The boys told me at his funeral, the same sea eagle that he fed fish off cuts to over the years flew over the gathering.
As Kane exited his umpteenth barrel for the trip, Walts says to me; “ it’s good to see him smile again. It’s been a while” RIP Ned O’Sullivan.
CHARTER SIXTEEN // 17 SEPTEMBER – 28 SEPTEMBER // 2012
Passengers: Mark Simposon, Samuel Lovell, Craig Barker, Steven Butcher, Christopher Russell, Seth McKinney, William Lafferty, Shane Baum
“Shit here they come again.”
We could hear John whinging before we even arrived. We’d assembled a crack team of Americans to take over the Barrenjoey for yet another Tour de Global Cop. Well, we actually had 5 Seppos, plus an American defector now residing in Puerto Rico, Mexico, as well as Seth from Oahu, Brazil. Lastly was Steven from One Tooth Island on his maiden Indonesian voyage. This was gonna be fun.
Belinda, Fynn, and Duke picked us up at the airport. B, knowing us, had the beer cooler loaded and upon depletion prior to getting to town it was surmised we were going to need to re-evaluate the beer hold on the boat. The decision was made to double the inventory.
John had warned us a week in advance: “Better sew some extra fabric into your boardshorts boys, you’re gonna need them to hold balls like grapefruits…..swell of the season on the way.” And he was right; there was plenty of swell from the get-go and it kept increasing throughout the trip. Unfortunately the pesky southerlies that had been blowing continued their streak and blew on and off throughout the charter. But there were windows. A few evening sessions at The Office that were magic. Some wonderful windswept sessions at Scarecrows where even with hard side/onshores the faces were smooth and by the time the swell had wrapped 180 degrees around the reef it was straight into the teeth and throwing out barrels. The Captain even got a head dip on the bonzer which tells you how good it really was.
We surfed a lot, bounced off the reef a lot, caught the biggest Dogtooth Tuna in BJ history, protected Belinda, Fynn and Duke from the maniacal Captain on a daily basis, and had too many laughs up on the Lizard Lounge.
Best takeaway from the trip was watching Fynn throw a fit about something or other, and realizing he’s just a smaller version of his pops. Insert John here: “I want to go back to The Office! I want to go back to The Office! I want to go back to the Office!!!!!! WWHHHHAAAAAAAAAA!”
Freakin’ kids. Thanks McGroder Family for your hospitality. See ya’s April 2014.