ADDICTION

Among the boats that work the Mentawais, MV Addiction has built the kind of reputation that only comes from time on the water. More than fifteen years running these islands, a refit completed in 2006, and a standing among surf charter regulars as one of the most comfortable and best-run vessels in the region. What sets her apart, once you've experienced it, is pace. She is quick and she holds her line — and in an archipelago where the swell dictates everything, speed converts directly into surfing. Shorter crossings, more time checking banks and reading conditions, far less watching a good session slip away while you're still under way. It's an advantage that's difficult to appreciate on paper and obvious after a single trip. Four cabins accommodate ten guests, with the detailed bed configuration available on request. The layout reflects what the boat is for: a small group, a long run of swell, and no wasted space. Her cruising ground is the Indian and Andaman Ocean — West Sumatra and the Mentawai Islands as the heart of it, with the Tello Islands and Nias within reach, and extended routes running north to Sumatra and Aceh, or as far as Phuket. Northern Sumatra itineraries carry an additional fuel surcharge. Onboard, the crew know these waters intimately, and the standard of service has been the constant behind the boat's name for well over a decade — attentive, unhurried, and built around getting you in the water at the right time.