Sola Gracia Surf Charter

The Sola Gracia is a beautifully built 23 metre motor cruiser that had a total refit just a few years ago.

Although she's been a regular fixture in the pacific side as well as eastern stretches of Indonesia, the vessel is now under the guidance of an extremely experienced crew who know Sumatra as well as anyone. 

The boat is a beast. Its everything you'd expect from a high end surf charter, so its with some surprise that its such an affordable option in the mid price range bracket. We expect that pricing will increase in years to come, but for now, the Sola Gracia remains as one of the best value for money charters currently operating in Indonesia.

Group Size: 11 guests (12 on request) min 8 guests
Number of Cabins: 3 large a/c cabins
Length of Stay: 10 days surfing / 11 nights on board
Destination: Mentawai & Telo islands
Surfing Ability: Intermediate to advanced only
Budget: Medium
A/C: Cabins & dining area
Photos: AUD 250 pp
Beers: 10 cases per trip
Tender: 2 speedboats - Centre Console with 80 hp & 4m inflatable with 15 hp
Port: Padang, West Sumatra

As we mentioned, she is BIG. And can comfortably sleep 11 guests (12 on request). Guests have 3 roomy a/c cabins on offer (not dorm style). There is a bathroom/shower on the main deck, shower on the swim platform & the guest cabins have an ensuite toilet & shower. The main lounge and dining area is light and airy with ample seating, big screen TV and stereo. The boat is fully air-conditioned. 

The large top deck area can seat 20 guests, again, its massive. Its perfect for watching your buddies surf or taking a well earned break from the tropical sun. Its also ideal for shooting the action and just hanging out. The view of the lineup from the top deck is second to none. 

The back transom is a large space for diving and fishing and that leads to the back deck. This is the action station during the day with the tenders running back and forth to the surf, all day long long, dawn to dusk. This area also has a surfboard rack for 20+ boards and a lot of room to move.

* 11 beds (A/C) 12 beds on request
* 3 private cabins (2 cabins with 4 bunks each & 1 cabin with a double and 2 bunk beds)
* Guest cabins ensuite toilet & shower 
* Bathroom/shower on the main deck
* Shower on the swim platform
* Inside dining & lounge area (A/C)
* Flat screen TV 
* Stereo system
* Large outside decking area with seating for 20 people
* Snorkeling & Fishing Gear 
* Satellite Phone

3 large, healthy delicious meals are served each day

A mix of Indonesian and Western cuisine served for breakfast, lunch & dinner. Vegetarians can be catered for given prior notice.

Includes:

* Daily meals
* Snacks, fruit Juices & soft drinks
* Unlimited Tea, Coffee and Water 
* 10 cases of Bintang per trip (more can be ordered prior to departure)


Top deck Sola Gracia where most meals are served

The Sola Gracia has an incredible & experienced team. 

The owner / skipper / surf guide (Guy Morgan) who is from South Africa has 7 years of experience running several charter boats throughout the region and managing and guiding in resorts across the archipelago. He's a classic bloke, an absolute frother, super funny and a great surfer too. 

 (above) Your frothing captain, Guy Morgan

The main Indonesian crew members have all been chartering the Mentawai, Telos and Banyaks region for more than 6 years.

There will also be a professional photographer available onboard for video and photos for those that are keen to document their trip (extra charges applicable). Includes water, land, drone and video plus an edit of the entire trip with a lifestyle folder and highlight reel of everyone that purchases the package. Price on request but typically around AUD 250 pp.

- Indonesian Captain
- South African  owner / skipper / surf guide (Guy Morgan)
- Indonesian Chef, deck hands & kitchen staff
- Photographer

What’s included

- Airport transfers to and from the boat
- Berth on board Sola Gracia (11 nights)
- 10 days surfing in the Mentawai islands (or Telo's upon request)
- Use of both speedboats (including dawn til dusk speedboat shuttles to the surf)
- Experienced surf guide
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner including snacks
- Unlimited tea, coffee, purified water
- 10 cases of Bintang per trip
- Use of fishing, snorkeling, speargun equipment and shore excursions
- All necessary zone permits

What’s not included

- Mentawai Surfer Tax (AUD$ 100/pax)
- Photography
- Flights to and from Padang
- Hotel in Padang if required
- Visa Fees and Departure Tax
- Any additional cost resulting from late arrival or the need for early departure
- Spirits and any other alcoholic beverages exceeding the beers a day

Exclusive Charter prices available for all trips catering for up to 11 guests. We also offer exclusive charters for up to 12 people.

Non-Exclusive charters cater for individual bookings or smaller groups that do not want to have the exclusivity of the entire vessel. Please bear in mind that we need minimum 8 guests to run a trip.

Extras If the schedule permits we offer extra nights for only AU$300 pp per night. Personal photographer service available on request. (Please bring your own usb.) Extra carton of Bintang/Anker beer is only AU$45.

Guests of the Sola Gracia will have access to 2 tenders; a centre console speedboat (80 hp) as well a smaller tender (25 hp). The centre console speedboat is perfect for missions in search of other waves while the boat is anchored up. It can take 6 guests. Whats more is that the Sola Gracia only has a 1.8m draft (the depth of the boat) which means it can literally park within paddling distance from the waves. So you're only ever a minute or so on the tenders. A lot of the older bigger boats that operate in the region, sit deeper in the water and have to park up further away from the reef. The boats cruising speed is also 10 knots which is faster than most vessels in the area (and more comfortable - and safer too!).

* Length Overall: 23.35m (76'7")
* Length : 23.35m (76'7")
* Width : 6.00m (19'8")
* Depth : 1.80m (5'10")
* Marine Engine: 2 x 350HP Marine Diesel engines
* Style: Motor cruiser
* Cruise speed: 8-10 knots
* Electrical points: 240v AC and 12v DC

* Raytheon Radar 
* Furuno Radar
* Furuno GPS/Echo Sounder
* Interphase Forward Looking Sonar
* Garmin GPS 
* VHF Radio 
* Sailor Satellite Telephone
* ECS Computer Navigation System
* Rudder Indicator
* Wind Indicator
* Intercom Phone System
* Depth Indicator
* RPM Indicator

Life Saving Equipment

* 40 Life Jackets
* 2 First Aid Kit
* Speedboat - 4m inflatable with 15 hp
* Speedboat - Centre Console with 80 hp
* 1 Flare Kit
* 6 Life Buoys
* 3 Life Raft for 24 persons
* 2 Epirb
* 8 Fire Extinguishers
* First Aid Kit (with staff on board trained to use it)

Note: Satellite phone is available for emergency use only. If guests want to use it for any other reason, you will be charged. Please note, some areas of the region have mobile signal. Furthermore, some surf resorts have internet access and occasionally it will be possible to use their facilities.

When booking a trip aboard the Sola Gracia, guests will have the chance to surf either the Mentawai Islands (the whole region) – or further north to the Telo Islands (as well as parts of the Northern Mentawai). If you’re booking a large group then you’ll usually get to choose which region. Smaller groups and single surfers should enquire as to which region the charter will be heading to.

Detailed information for all the surf breaks can be found in the destination's section of the site within the Mentawai, Banyak & Telo pages.

* Surf Breaks - Mentawai (Playgrounds)
* Surf Breaks - Telo Islands

Guests need to fly into Padang Airport, West Sumatra 

Arrival into Padang by (latest) 1pm.

The boat departs at 6pm.  Departure flights should be from 1pm (onwards) on the last day of the trip.

Flights 

We recommend using www.skyscanner.com and flying into either Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - or Jakarta, Indonesia.  From KL, there is usually one morning flight (1hr) with Air Asia  as well as a lunchtime flight to Padang.  From Jakarta, there are over a dozen flights each day that fly into Padang, from airlines such as Garuda Airlines, Srwijaya, Citilink  & Lion Air. We recommend www.traveloka.com

Note: Visa On Arrival: A FREE 30 day Visa On Arrival is now available for a number of countries including: Australia, USA, Brazil, South Africa, New Zealand, Canada, Peru, Costa Rica, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Ireland, England, France, Switzerland, Sweden and Germany. 

Arrive Padang airport by 1pm.

One of our staff will be waiting to take you to the harbor.

Depart harbour 6pm, arrive Mentawai Islands early the next morning.

11 nights / 10 days surfing

Return back to Padang early morning.

One of our reps will take you to the airport or hotel of choice

Fly anytime after 1pm.

Note: The trip has no fixed route as the surf conditions can change day to day. Our experienced 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 most of the day surfing.

All guests travelling to any surf camp or charter boat in Sumatra will require Travel Insurance. Surf Camp Sumatra recommends using World Nomads for any trip to Sumatra. Simply use the below form to get a quote.

Before booking a trip aboard Sola Gracia, 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.