Pulse Surf Charter

The impressive "Pulse"

Group Size: Max 10 / Min 8 guests
Number of Cabins: 6 a/c guest cabins 
Length of Stay: 12 days surfing / 13 nights on board
Destination: Banyak Islands (+ Nias & Hinako's)
Surfing Ability: Intermediate to advanced only
Budget: High
A/C: All cabins and all common rooms
Photos: Included
Beers: Unlimited complimentary beers & soft drinks
Tender: 2 speedboats
Port: Lahewa, Nias

Pulse is Australian owned & operated & is the bench mark "surf charter experience" in Indonesia. Specialising in trips to Northern Sumatra, specifically the Banyak surf region - this spacious and modern aluminium catamaran comfortably sleeps 8-10 guests within 6 private guest cabins & boasts an impressive cruising speed of 10-12 knots.

In 2013, Pulse was custom designed and built by its owners who have more than 2 decades of experience operating in this remote corner of Sumatra. 

The boat has a whopping 3 deck levels as well as plenty of on board facilities including 2 flat screen TV's, 1-TB hard drive of movies, an amazing Bluetooth sound system, 2 speedboats, 3 SUP's, fishing, snorkelling and spear fishing equipment.

Its also fully equipped with all the latest safety & navigation equipment you'd expect!

Happy days in the Banyaks

Plenty of room to relax (Bridge Deck)

Three deck levels; guest accommodation lower hull level, saloon and galley on main deck, and dining area at the bridge deck level.

The accommodation and saloon areas are fully air-conditioned.

Sleeping Cabins (Hull level)

There are 10 guest beds in six separate rooms; comprised with eight beds – 140cm (w) x 200cm (l) and two beds – 90cm (w) x 200cm (l).
Each cabin fitted with separate units to allow guests to regulate the temperature.

Saloon & Galley (Main Deck)

Saloon deck includes huge ‘chill out’ couch for ten guests to enjoy the home theatre system

Dining Area (Bridge Deck)

The dining area on the bridge deck comfortably seats 12 & is fitted with a TV replaying the days surf footage. The bridge deck serves as the main dining and hang out area to enjoy the panoramic views and is maximised for natural airflow. It also boasts an impressive sound system.

* 3 deck levels (hull level) sleeping cabins, (main deck) saloon & galley, (bridge deck) dining area
* 6 cabins (private a/c) for a maximum of 10 guests 
* 3 bathroom / toilets - all with hot and cold showers
* Towels are provided – one beach and one bath towel per guest.
* Saloon deck includes huge ‘chill out’ couch for ten guests to enjoy the home theatre system
* 2 x Flat screen TV’s (40” saloon and 32” bridge deck) with 1-TB hard drive containing hundreds of movies.
* Awesome bridge deck sound system with blue tooth interface and 1400w of power
* Slow speed internet is available anywhere there is mobile phone reception, which guests will go to quite regularly on a usual surf trip.
* Power is 220v AC and universal power adaptors are supplied in each room.


Saloon (Main Deck)


Dining area (Bridge Deck)

Bridge deck and dining area

Breakfast

Buffet breakfast of cereals, fruit, juice, homemade yoghurt and muesli, toast, tea and freshly brewed coffee.
Mid morning cooked breakfast that includes; bacon, eggs, toasted sandwiches, pancakes, quesadillas, homemade bread and more.

Lunch & dinner

Lunches and dinners are a selection of European and Asian dishes from Thai, Indian, Chinese, Japanese, to Mexican, Italian, salads, seafood and the best of local cuisine. And not forgetting Pulse's famous Weber grilled BBQ’s and Ayu’s desserts!

Only the finest ingredients are used. Meats sourced from Australia and New Zealand are accompanied with only the best local and imported produce. Complimentary red wine served on steak and lamb nights, however additional wine and spirits can be purchased onboard or just bring your own.

Beer and soft drinks are kept in ice boxes for your convenience & are complimentary.

Included in all packages:

3 large, healthy delicious meals are served each day
Snacks, fruit Juices & soft drinks
Unlimited tea, coffee & water
Unlimited beers 

Vegetarians can be catered for given prior notice.

Delicious and healthy food included in all packages

What’s included

* 12 FULL surfing days – Banyaks (+ Nias & Hinako's)
* Return taxi transfers from Gunung Sitoli airport (Nias) to Lahewa port (approx 2hrs)
* Single or double bed in an a/c cabin
* 3 large, healthy delicious meals served each day
* Unlimited snacks, fruit Juices & soft drinks each day
* Unlimited tea, coffee and water each day
* Unlimited beers
* Speedboat shuttles to the surf from dawn til dusk, all day every day
* Use of fishing and snorkeling equipment
* Use of SUP's
* Complimentary photo & video package
* All necessary zone permits

What’s not included

* Any flights
* Any hotels if needed
* Visa fees and departure taxes
* Any additional cost resulting from late arrival or the need of early departure
* Use of satellite phone
* Tips for the crew

Length Overall (LOA): 22m (72')
Construction: Aluminium Catamaran
Marine Engine: 2 x Mitsubishi (6BTA) intercooled turbo 350hp
Launched: 2013
Max Speed: 15 kts (Cruise Speed 10–12 kts)
Reverse osmosis fresh water-maker capacity 250 L/hour
Tender 1: 5.2m RIB tender with 40hp centre console
Tender 2: 3.1m RIB tender with 15hp
Power: Hybrid Diesel Electrical power system
2 x 19kVA Cummins Onan Gensets
3 x 3kW Victron Invertors Chargers (9kW)
2 x 360aH Lithium Ion battery banks (720aH)
15 x 360W solar panels (5400W)

Electrical power is provided from a hybrid diesel/ lithium battery system. A combination of solar cells with lithium ion battery banks powers the 9kW inverters at 230vAC, day and night. When required either of the two 19kVA generators auto-start to provide the battery charging and backup power supply. Therefore this system has triple redundancy for power supply failure.
 (Bridge deck) dining area

 (hull level) sleeping cabins(main deck) saloon & galley

NAVIGATION ELECTRONICS

* Raymarine (C120W) 12” multi-function wide screen colour display unit
* Chartplotter
* Radar (24nm range)
* Fishfinder/depth sounder (dual frequency 600w)
* CCTV engine room monitoring
* Second GPS unit (Furuno(GP-36) located in Captain’s cabin for position monitoring and anchor watch alarm.
* Autopilot System (Coursemaster CM-950)
* Air horn
* Searchlight

SAFETY SYSTEMS

* Two ICOM (M-502) VHF radios with DSC
* One Hand held VHF radio
* One ICOM (M-802) SSB HF radio with DSC
* One EPIRB 406 MHz
* One hand held Satellite phone
* Two ten person life rafts
* Twenty life jackets

Ten separate bilge alarm sensors with automatic pumps fitted on each, with separate emergency bilge manifold system operated from the engine room.
Watertight subdivision separated into eight zones; with capacity for any one compartment flooding while staying afloat.

Engine room provided with automatic fixed fire suppression system. Smoke alarms and handheld fire extinguishers throughout deck areas. Gas alarm fitted to the galley and saloon to detect LPG gas leakage.

The “many” islands, lie off the west coast of Northern Sumatra, nestled between the island of Nias to the south and south east of Simeulue, to the North. These sparsely inhabited islands are home to world class waves including “Treasure Island” as well as a wave dense cluster of breaks, found in the “Bay of Plenty”. And in similar fashion to its neighbouring archipelagos, perfect waves break on its shores with extreme frequency. Located just above the equator, winds are generally light year round.  

The best time of year to surf “The Banyaks” is during the dry season, which can be anytime from late March to early November, when the Indian Ocean produces its most consistent groundswells.

As a rule, the surf is suited more for intermediate to experienced riders. They will certainly take more from the long trip to the region. And although the area boasts 100’s of dreamy set-ups, most unload onto sharp coral reef ready to dish out a suitable punishment given half a chance. This is primarily the reason we dont encourage learners or even progressing beginners to the area.

That said, with so many waves to choose from, intermediates can still ride the waves of their lives, without too much risk. As for the advanced surfer – one trip will result in many more to follow.

Detailed information for all the surf breaks can be found in the Banyak Islands destination's section of the site: 

* Surf Breaks - Banyak Islands.

Guests need to fly into Gunung Sitoli Airport (GNS), Nias, West Sumatra 

Arrival into Gunung Sitoli by mid afternoon.

Guests will then be taken by car to the port in Lahewa. 

The boat departs at 6-7pm. 

Flights 

We recommend using www.skyscanner.net and flying into either Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - or Jakarta, Indonesia. 

We highly recommend the 11:40 am Garuda flight departing from Medan to Nias – Gunung Sitoli:

11:40am Garuda flight GA7116 (Medan to GNS)

Garuda also has direct flights to Nias via Jakarta.

On return, Fly anytime 8am or after (Saturday morning) we recommend this flight: 9:50am Garuda flight GA7117 (GNS to Medan)

Note: Domestic and international flights can be booked via Boraspati Travel email [email protected]

You will be met on arrival at Gunung Sitoli Airport, Nias Island, North Sumatra and transferred to Pulse.

• Pulse is situated at the port of Lahewa, North Nias, approximately 2 hours drive from the airport.
• Boat departs in the evening
• 3.5 hour passage to the Banyaks
• 12 FULL surfing days – Banyaks, Nias, Hinakos
• Pulse returns to Lahewa Friday night.
• We transfer guests back to Gunung Sitoli Airport, Nias early Saturday morning arriving approximately 8am.
• Fly anytime 8am or after (Saturday morning)

 Note: The trip has no fixed route as the surf conditions can change day to day. The crew are always aware of the swell forecast and will update everybody each day to discuss the next move. The captain will usually change location during the night, leaving the opportunity for the guests to enjoy each day to go surfing.

Before booking a trip aboard Pulse, make sure to check our "Know before you go" section which is a handy page of what to expect as well as a detailed inventory of what to bring.

For those that need some help in choosing the right surf charter boat or those that are unsure what's better a surf charter boat or surf camp, then check out both our blogs below.