Parked On The Reef

Bali’s top surfers woke up early today hoping to score a few waves at the Bukit peninsula’s legendary Padang Padang before the opening ceremonies of the Rip Curl ISC Padang contest — the winner of which would go onto to compete in the WCT Search contest in Bali (allegedly) late this month. When they got there however, they found someone had already out-dawn patrolled them. A 150’ foot fishing boat had run aground overnight, and was parked on the reef exactly in the take off zone.

How did this happen? What was going to be done about it? These were not the first questions on local surfers minds, as sick little wedges were ledging off the side of the boat. SURFING photographer Nate Lawrence was in the water right away, as surfers Kai Barger, Bol, and Rizal Tanjung began exploiting the new little set-up. But they weren’t the only ones making the most of the situation.

It didn’t take locals long to figure out that the Taiwanese boat had been illegally fishing in Indonesian waters. When the boat ran aground (Poor navigation? Too many Arak Attacks? Captain was wearing green? No one really knows why…), the entire crew of the vessel grabbed every bit of documentation they could and booked it on the Bukit. Gone. Audi 5000. Between the fines for illegal fishing and the cost of getting the boat off the reef, they were cutting their losses. And their loss, was the locals’ gain.

Let the looting began.

First, they started grabbing the frozen fish from below the deck: huge tuna, barracuda, sharks…nearly 500 illegally caught fish. Then they started taking clothes, deck chairs, radar equipment…anything that wasn’t bolted down. “There’s definitely gonna be some crazy barbecues going down everywhere from Padang to Uluwatu this week,” said Lawrence. “I think I smell some cooking already.”

On the beach, the speculation was wild. Everything from some form or terrorist attack to the gods being angry for too many contests on the peninsula. But out in the water, it was business as usual. “I hope they don’t move this thing anytime soon,” said Kai Barger, after boosting a nice little air-reverse off the new obstacle.

It doesn’t look like they will, either. With no serious high-tides until next week…and that one seemingly timed with the next big swell, it looks like someone may have to go ahead and name this new spot. We’re suggesting Padang Padang Padang…but it’s not really our call to make.

In the meantime, the water is filthy with gas an oil and, oh yeah, there’s a giant ship in the middle of one of the world’s most beautiful surf breaks. Mankind is awesome.

Stay tuned to SURFINGMAGAZINE.com for further updates.

Reader Comments 

Posted Sun Jul13, 2008, 1:09 AM — By steven

well the fishermen got what was comin to them

Posted Sun Jul13, 2008, 3:55 AM — By keahi

wheres the acid drop off the boat

Posted Sun Jul13, 2008, 4:47 AM — By david

I was there yesterday and took some video of the looting and some pictures. All the indonesians were stoked. I helped them take fish to shore. Everyone was BBQ`ing that night. Most the locals on the bukit were there. Our bemo driver and others we met in the area were all there. Riz was in the water. It did not seem to affect the break much. It should make for a really good backdrop for the contest.

Posted Sun Jul13, 2008, 10:53 AM — By O dogg

we been eating that fish for days.. ugh.. who knows how long it's been frozen down in that hull. the balinese went after the fish during the day. the javanese went after the loot during the night. the gov don't give a rats ass about it. now all the fussy bules are calling out the surf execs to rally a big rub n' tug before the next swell. bali style, baby. p.s. better go holiday somewhere else next year, bro.

Posted Sun Jul13, 2008, 11:15 AM — By Flemmish Fred

Ha ha ha aha hahahahhhah hah ah ha ha ha ha!! This is karmic back-lash for all the donkey spongers who disgrace the waves of Padang. Slurp diesel tea-baggers.

Posted Sun Jul13, 2008, 3:53 PM — By Al Soldano

I'm glad the rusted Chinese shipping vessel ran aground at Padang Padang.

Posted Sun Jul13, 2008, 5:18 PM — By JP

We'll see how stoked everyone is after the refraction from the ship during the first big swell.

Posted Sun Jul13, 2008, 5:52 PM — By Jond

I guess it's just adding to the atmosphere. Speaking of, what is the enviromental effect of this going to be? Bali allready has more than it's share of pollution. When are we going to clean this place up. It's to wonderful to let go further down the "toilet"!!!!

Posted Sun Jul13, 2008, 10:24 PM — By ejsurf

this fishing boat been missing over 20 days, the crew are indo and only 2 Taiwanese on it. no one knows are they still live or dead, the boat been foltage for few days. It is not nice too see the rusted boat in that perfect wave and clean break. I don't think no one want too see this and finding where the crew are far more important, is it!

Posted Sun Jul13, 2008, 11:58 PM — By Galih

Shoot...I should be there before they robed everything...b/c I need the fish as well ! LOL

Posted Mon Jul14, 2008, 12:06 AM — By Pritha

We did BBQ party last night. And some of our friends brought the tuna from the boat! hahahahhahahahah, if was fun! I should have been there too to get some barracudas for the bbq!!

Posted Mon Jul14, 2008, 2:35 AM — By Aquabumps

I was there shooting it on the weekend. Pretty amazing...that boat (Ho Tsai Fa No.18)is famous for illegally fishing all over the globe. it got caught with 60,000 kilos of sharks fin off costa rica in 2003. Taiwanese officials think there was a mutiny on the boat and the 12 indonesia crew had taken control before running it up on the reef at full steam. green peace have been chasing this boat for ages. I have more pics at aquabumps.com

Posted Mon Jul14, 2008, 4:21 AM — By kenney

sucked in Riz and the chop hop boys ,this is Karma and i hope it moves right on to the take off spot and drops diesel and oil everywhere...you should have been surfing here 20 years ok...haha

Posted Mon Jul14, 2008, 7:54 AM — By jsmith

what a mess

Posted Mon Jul14, 2008, 7:40 PM — By 23 Chips

I'll be there to rip in the coming swell. You'll see me in all the mags air dropping from the tanker into the barrel. That's how much I rip. 23 Chips

Posted Mon Jul14, 2008, 7:46 PM — By 23 Chips

Al Soldano is a kook. 23 Chips

Posted Mon Jul14, 2008, 8:42 PM — By Richard

What makes me sick is how many ships like this get away with illegal fishing. The ship should be converted into a vessel used to help appreciate and preserve nature.

Posted Tue Jul15, 2008, 1:07 AM — By bagus

Flemmish Fred is obviously a grade A Kook!

Posted Tue Jul15, 2008, 1:46 PM — By seb

Flemmish Fred u must be a frustrate kuta beach surfer no??? Sorry !!"try to " surfer u know what the sponger say u... ????? i let u imagine .... and flemmish means smell fish no??? AH AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH ....arrrrrrrrrrrrggggghhhhh !!!!!!!

Posted Wed Jul16, 2008, 5:33 PM — By mf

rip curl...bent on using ppl of 3rd world countries and the planet for their own financial gain!!!......Bali has a lot of bad karma and karmicly.if the crew were all murdered in papua and the boat has been running unmanned for days and the boat decides to run aground in the land of karma..rip curl might wanna ask themselves some questions...allthough they're too caught up in their egomaniacal plunder of the world....as per usual the indonesians take what they can get immediately without looking at the consequences...,ie fish.and items from the boat.. without looking further down the track..ie.all the energy spent on luting might have been better expended working out a way to get the wreck out of there..granted its better to eat the fish than let it rot...but no one's starving up on the bukit thats for sure!!!!and theres alot of destitution in bali...chek out the back streets of denpasar.......wont it be nice to see a big oilslick along that nice stretch of coast?...

Posted Sat Jul19, 2008, 2:02 PM — By pablocruiser

rip curl search searching for real now?

Posted Thu Jul24, 2008, 11:34 PM — By ryry

What you didn't see was the tugs that were lined up, paid for, and ready to pull the boat within a day of it showing up, but the Balinese police put a stop to the permits because they didn't get paid off enough. I was there in the water. Polluted everything to Balangan. What a waste.

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