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Back From the Blue: PNG Explorer Trip 5.

Words and photos by Chris Peel.

 

Greetings from Kavieng harbour, where PNG Explorer is anchored.

We have just returned to port from trip 5 and docked loaded to the gunnels with smiles. Huey has been blessing the mighty PNG Explorer despite the dire state of the storms in the North Pacific and we kicked off the last charter all systems go from day one.

All breaks were firing and all were taken advantage of. It’s a pretty unique feeling waking up and looking around from the boat to see waves that you used to draw at school and not have a single surfer around besides you and your best mates. After three days of ‘’some of the funnest waves in my life’’, it was time for Huey to have a little rest and for us to replenish the fish stocks with some fishing missions. Chef Israel had been serving excess amounts of sashimi during afternoon beers, so a semi emergency was taking place on the fish stock front. After filling the freezers with all manner of piscatorial delights, it was time to get back into what we all came for though despite the fun that catching big fish from the small boats is.

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The visual feast was just as abundant as the sashimi and we were treated to some of the most surreal sunrises of the season so far on this trip, making for good viewing during morning coffee and surf strategy discussions. With the swell down and the wind the wrong direction, spirits were dipping so Captain Rigby came up with a possible solution via an outer island swell magnet that could be on. It was a bit of a long shot but the anchor was pulled and we were on our way. We also stopped by an old WWII Japanese Cape bomber plane the skip knew about that’s in pretty shallow water and the decision was made to stop quickly and check it out. It’s pretty amazing here in PNG and it seems every corner has something special tucked away if you look close.

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We arrived at the Skip’s mysto surf location in the afternoon and the gamble paid off. It was on. A little shifty at first but nothing the high tide wouldn’t fix and after a high water session serious prep for the following day was required (which mainly consists of fishing and drinking beers while floating down the white silica sand passage), the next few days consisted of arm-breaking sessions, barbeques, bottomless plates of food and the clear blue joy of the outer islands.

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As the end of the trip neared, it was time to head back to the bread and butter region to try squeeze a couple more tubes in before we had to steam back to port, which we did manage to get. The guests surfed up to the very last minute to make sure not one swell was wasted and with noses still leaking saltwater departed Kavieng the following dawn.

That was trip 5 and Trip 6 is heading out soon. Hopefully next report we will have some exciting news, so stay tuned.

Lukim you behind (See you later)

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Written by:
Chris Peel

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