27th July – 7th August | 6ft ++
No breaks
A HANDFUL OF YALLINGUP’S FINEST JOINED US ON A STRIKE MISSION TO SURF EPIC WAVES AND BANK MEMORIES TO RETELL A HUNDRED TIMES OVER.
There’s a certain kind of magic when friends meet up from afar—not over beers in a pub or at a backyard barbecue—but on the deck of an 84-foot timber sloop adventuring through the famed waters of the Mentawai Islands. This was one of those trips.
WILD WEATHER, WILDER BARRELS
It wasn’t all smooth sailing – strong winds and one of the biggest storm fronts of the year kept things interesting. But the Mighty Mango was built for exactly this. She powered us into the right spots and delivered pumping waves, proving yet again why she’s the ultimate surf strike vessel.
THE BUSH DELIVERS
After a few days working the southern zones, a call was made “The Bush could be ON tomorrow!”
An eight-hour overnight sail followed. The payoff? Day 4 dawned with us first in the lineup and a clean swell jacking perfectly onto the iconic peak take-off. The boys went to work, putting on such a display that a handful of others in the water sat back to watch.
But the final day was the real crescendo. The Bush roared to life in what we’re calling the best conditions of the year. Long, hollow, ruler-edged freight trains, and the boys owned the peak from start to finish.
WAVE OF TRIP
This one was hotly contested. Mid-trip, Charlie looked like the clear winner—until Felix stole the spotlight only half an hour later. But the crown ultimately went to Josh on the last morning.
It started as a questionable lump, the kind you’d normally maybe let go. But it began to grow, grooming itself fast into something special. Josh threaded it with surgical precision, standing tall through the last section, casual enough to be soaking in the scene as the wave showered him in spit.
In a lineup full of heavy hitters, this session belonged to Josh….and co.
A WIPEOUT WORTHY OF A SEQUENCE
It’s not every trip we single out a wipeout, but this one deserved it.
Down south, a set stacked up that looked like Chopes had been teleported to the Ments. With the peanut gallery watching (and yelling) and cameras ready, Charlie paddled deep, went hard…..and had no option but to eject last second, pin dropping out of the monster thick lip.
No harm done—except to his pride—and the stack only seemed to fuel his fire. The sessions that followed saw him pushing harder, charging deeper, and making amends in style.
THE BROTHERHOOD
When childhood best mates converge from all over Australia for their first taste of the Mighty Mango, you get more than just your average surf trip— The ocean-bred camaraderie, the inside laughs and jokes, the pure surf froth, pushing everyone harder.
Phones went to the bottom. Eardrums perforated. Boards snapped. Stuff lost. But everyone stepped off the boat in one piece, salt-crusted and grinning like kids.
These are the kind of trips that get talked about for decades.
ON THE MENU
There is something about West Aussies and their seafood. They just love it more than others.
Situ’s seafood spreads are now becoming legendary…and the boys could not get enough of it.
QUOTE
“This is 100% my second favorite wave in the world”
Josh Cattlin
(His first? Tombstones….of course.)
Special Thanks
To the crew for bringing the laughs and the energy. To Felix for staying positive through injury. And to Listen Clothing for buffing out the lads.
Cheers Uncle Lip.
