MV Midas - Mentawai

Completely refurbished in 2006 with state-of-the-art equipment and cabins, Midas comfortably accommodates 6 to 10 people. Powered by twin 1100hp Man diesel motors, Midas can reach speeds of up to 26 knots, allowing guests to explore remote Mentawai surf spots that slower boats simply cannot reach.

It's not just the experience of the Midas surf captain, the warmth of the boat crew and the comfort of the luxury boat that makes Midas such a popular charter for surfers in the Mentawai Islands. It’s the sheer speed! It has a range of approximately 600 nautical miles from its base in Padang and can easily remain at sea for up to two weeks.

Built to the highest safety standards, Midas is a spacious, fully air-conditioned boat designed for fast cruising in style and luxury.

Surfing or private guests gather to party or chill out in the enormous saloon with TV, DVD, Bose Sound System and Xbox console. If you love the outdoors, get out of your cabin to watch the sunset in the aft deck that seats 8. Perhaps you prefer relaxing in the air-conditioned fly bridge or watching the Mentawai surf action from the boat’s exterior seats. All the popular features of a luxury hotel come as standard for the MV Midas.

Captain & Crew

Carefully selected for their surf experience, knowledge of the surf industry and superb customer service skills, the Midas boat crew is highly regarded by their peers in the Mentawai Islands. The experienced Indonesian team - Suri, Eka, Julian and Adi treat everyone as friends. Each gained substantial experience on a variety of Mentawais surf charter boats prior to joining Midas. Their mission is to provide you with a superior Indonesian surf experience.. There are five boat crew including the captain; Suri the cook; our Engineer Eka, Julian, who manages the RIB and takes the surfers to the breaks; and our general hand, Adi. Lyri is our dedicated Ground Handler who will meet you off the plane and ensure the time you have in Padang prior boarding the boat and after the charter is all under control. Midas has two experienced Mentawai surf captains: Rick Hallett (full time) and Jody Perry (part time).

Captain Rick Hallett is a highly qualified international Master Class 5 captain who has a wealth of experience in the waters of SE Asia and especially in the Mentawai's and North to Telos.  He is also a Registered Nurse who maintains his skills by working in remote areas of Australia and in a Sydney hospital during the off season. In the early '90s Rick was sailing/cruising/surfing the many islands of the Indian Ocean coast between Bali, Java and Sumatra through to Thailand and Malaysia. In 2001 Rick sailed from Malaysia, across the Indian Ocean to Kenya via Thailand, Sumatra and it's many islands, the Chagos Archipelago and the Seychelles. On returning he resumed working in the surf charter industry skippering boats through the Mentawais, Telos's, Nias and further north for a number of seasons and has worked with Rip Curl on the Indo Jiwa thru Sumatra and Papua. Being a surfer and skipper with a deep understanding of the sea, gives him unique experience of reading weather and ocean conditions in the Mentawais guiding both free-surfers and the industry's top pro-surfers alike, to special locations. With Ricks 11 years of experience and his vast knowledge of the surf in the Mentawais and islands to the north, combined with the experienced crew of Midas, you are assured that Rick and the crew will chase those waves and deliver a level of service you would expect on a luxury boat like Midas.

Captain Jody Perry is a highly qualified (Master 4) Australian skipper with over 30 years of surfing experience, over 20 years of boating experience, and many years of surf travel throughout Indonesia and elsewhere. Prior to joining Midas, he captained surf charter vessels such as the Huey 1, the Pelagic, and the Indies Traders throughout the Mentawais and Sumatra for the last 7 years, as well as other surf charter vessels overseas. Jody is well known by experienced surfers, who return to Padang regularly, as the skipper to have. He is a very accomplished surfer (former Queensland champion). His contacts with local boat operators means he can quickly point out where the best surf is breaking as well as going to the secret breaks he knows.

Accommodation

Midas has several features that make it a popular charter for Mentawai’s guests. The boat accommodates between 6 to 10 guests in four superb cabins. Each cabin is equipped with air-conditioning; surround sound TV/VCD/DVD, stereo systems and individual en-suite bathrooms.

Specifications

• Boat’s Builder: Vitech Marine
• LOA: 74.5ft / 22.7m
• Beam: 17.7ft / 5.4m
• Draft: 5f t/ 1.6m
• Engines: 2 x MAN 1,100 hp
• Range: 600nm (740km)@18 knots
• Max speed: 26 knots
• Cruising speed: 10-20 knots
• Passenger Cabins: 4
• Passenger Berths: 10 single, or 4 double + 2 single.
• Fuel capacity: 8000 litres
• Water capacity storage: 1800 litres, water maker producing 120 litres /day
• Transfers: 4.6m RIB (zodiac) with 40 hp Yahama outboard.

• Return Padang airport transfers
• 12 nights accommodation onboard
• Hotel day use when required
• 3 meals daily + some snack foods
• All beer and soft drinks
• Use of equipment onboard eg. Fishing, snorkeling, wakeboarding
• Mentawai tax

When you board the Midas boat, you never have to worry about food or drinks! You have access to beer, soda and cold drinks during the trip at no extra charge. If you want wines, spirits, or any other drink, just let us know before your charter and they'll stock the refrigerator for you at local prices.

The food menu on board is included in the price of the boat charter. Daily food is prepared daily by their excellent cook, Suri. The boat menu can be whatever food you're craving: local Indonesian menu, pasta dishes, pizza, chicken and, of course, fresh fish. Suri serves up generous portions of all food - be prepared to eat like a king on the boat!  Food is served at set times so once you’re done surfing, you don't have to wonder when the next meal is.

Schedule last updated: 01 January 1970

• Price is based on minimum of 10 persons travelling. Minimum required is 8 persons.
• Price is a per person price in AUD and subject to foreign exchange fluctuations.
• Please click "Enquire Here" to email us or call us on 1300 00WAVE to speak with one of our friendly consultants.

Disclaimer - This surf trip is an independent surf operator and is not part of or in partnership with The Perfect Wave Travel Co. The Perfect Wave acts as an agent only. We sell various travel related products on behalf of numerous transport, accommodation and other service providers, such as airlines, land based accommodation and boat charter operators. The Perfect Waves' obligation is to make travel bookings on your behalf and to arrange relevant contracts between you and travel service providers. The Perfect Wave has no responsibility for these services nor do we make or give any warranty of representation regarding their standards. All bookings are made subject to the terms and conditions and limitations of liability imposed by these service providers.

We’d love to hear your feedback! Please to enter your testimonial of your holiday and your experience with The Perfect Wave.

Grant

I had a great time on the Midas. The surf was excellent. The captain, Rick Hallett was a good bloke and very knowledgable, and the crew were great. The a/c in one cabin didn't work well though. Grant - NSW Sep 09

Experience Begun: September 2009

Created on: Friday 12 February 2010

Lou

We are a bunch of 50 something’s, have done 5 trips together. You name it Tahiti, Lombok boats, Pasta, PNG, Maldives So atolls etc you name it we have done it. MV Midas was insane, the boat enabled us to make the decision to move at speed to access swell and importantly miss crowds. On land and in Aus. Rhonda and the team were first rate. And when things go wrong, as they do, stolen surfboards and lost luggage, they were there 24/7. We have never done the same trip twice, always searched for the next perfect wave, but we’re booked already for our next trip on Midas; same time, same crew and yes Perfect Wave. Thanks Rhonda - Lou’s crew Mar 09

Experience Begun: March 2009

Created on: Friday 12 February 2010

Gerry

G’day Richie, Other than arriving in a disaster area at Padang after the earthquake, the two weeks on Midas would have to be the best holiday I have ever had. Rick, Julian, Ecka, Ferry and Ronald all made sure we had an excellent time. They could teach many five star hotels and resorts in Oz about customer service. For at least five days of the trip I had no idea what day it was. All I knew was I had breakfast of coco pops (the indo version), went for an unreal surf, had lunch, went for another unreal surf, went snorkelling, watched surf vids, read surf mags, slept, dozed, maybe another unreal surf, had dinner, and enjoyed the company of a varied and great bunch of guys. I know Rick was concerned that the surf wasn’t 'all time' indo, but, for a 52 year old beach break surfer, who had never surfed over reef before, I caught at least one wave every day, that absolutely paid for the trip. Just farkin’ bloody awesome. Most days I was in credit. The Mentawai islands are beautiful, and I have etched into my memory banks palm lined coral beaches, and perfection reef breaks. The big question is how do I get back next year and stay married?????????? And for how many years can I keep going before I can’t surf any more. Regards, Gerry - QLD Sep 09

Experience Begun: September 2009

Created on: Friday 12 February 2010

Dean

When 10 intrepid surfers, who are getting close to qualifying for their seniors cards, thought it was time to rejuvenate the soul and hit the waves the common view was to hit the Mentawis. In the quest to stay young, but being realistic enough to acknowledge that the number of cutbacks done per trip equate to what we most kids are doing on a single wave, we chose the MV Midas as our craft of choice to chase these waves. Why? Boat speed and comfort – it was fast enough to explore numerous breaks when the wind, tide and the crowds became a factor and comfortable enough to savour the joy of a great days surf. Throw in the bonus that the crew are sensational, food is great, the Bintang is always icy cold, the Skipper knows where the best waves are and that everyone has a focus of making it the best trip possible then you cannot fail to have the trip of a lifetime. The MV Midas did that and more and we have already booked again for the next 2 years as we challenge the theory that it only gets better next time around. Our first trip produced great waves with great friends and watching some of the footage again the other day I couldn’t help but notice the smiles all the boys had on their faces – mission accomplished as we all had the grins we had as kids, the stories get better and the tube ride is still achievable. Life without the thrill of surfing pristine, challenging and perfect waves just can’t be contemplated so if you feel the need for rejuvenation then I recommend you organise your own trip of a lifetime on the MV Midas and let the Perfect Wave Team, especially Rhonda, plan it for you. You won’t be disappointed. Dean - Vic Mar 09

Experience Begun: March 2009

Created on: Friday 12 February 2010