Moving on...

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Just had an email from Matt Herman:

Surfed at Sycamore Cove in Ventura County today, plus snook a few in at Malibu before lifeguards freaked out on me. 

Somebody called the mat a pool toy at Malibu, the guy said that mats were as bad as Costco boards to him, that made me laugh considering they are all hand-made.  Sycamore Cove was fun though.  There have been a few SSE swells this summer, weird stuff.

 I will add my tats today, then I'll send her off. 

Art is the supreme human endeavour. 

Thanks so much for giving Phileas a home Matt... And for keeping her on the straight and narrow.   

Off to John Mellor next. I wonder how Phileas will fit in with his wonderful array of craft?  

G

Back in Cali

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So, Phileas has made her way back to the US and is currently lodging with one of Rincon's truly nice guys, Matt Herman. Matt managed to snag some tiny but really fun little peelers down the beach from Rincon.

Matt says:

Phileas surfed well, it was fast and loose, even at high inflation levels. We were lucky enough to get steeply angled SSE swell from Hurricane Delores, which was no Marie.  It was, is, extremely humid for out here.  One day this week it was 76% and 84 degrees F.  Its strange to see rain and electrical storms in Santa Barbara, or CA.  The ocean was glassy, no clear as glass.  I saw bizarrely blue ocean colors all week on Instagram, as far north as Santa Cruz.  I surfed this morning on the back side of Rincon on Phileas, solo for a while.

I was at the back side of Pitus in these photos.  I felt like a kid on the day those were taken, weaving through bathers and getting called into waves by tourists and locals, who were both tripping out on the weather, water, and the mat surfing skills of yours truly. ;)

M.H.H.

I'm just pleased to see Phileas getting back to what she's best at and staying clear of her vices. Although the pram thing... I don't even want to ask!

Thanks to Sylvia Orantes for taking the photos.

G

HAPPY BIRTHDAY PHILEAS!

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Photo: Jamie McClellan 

Can you believe it, it's been one year today since Phileas set sail. She has a long way to go still but I thought it might be nice to take a look back over the journey so far.  

Happy Birthday ol' gal.  

Here's to the next 12 months of her travels.

HIP HIP! 

G  

Happy Birthday ol' gal.  

Here's to the next 12 months of her travels.

HIP HIP! 

G  

Arriba!

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 So Phileas has had a long weekend in Mexico and it looks like it's done her the world of good.  ASB  took her of to Scorpion Bay, Baja for a long weekend. 

Perfect point waves and sunshine. 

Not much of a crowd.

ere's what he had to say:

"Managed to borrow a go pro for a session and shot a few waves while holding it in my teeth. Won't see how they came out for a few weeks. The camera is down here until after they get home on the 24th.

Great food.

​Each wave I filmed was about 30-45 seconds and Phileas rides great. Had a guy tell me today he watched me get the best waves he saw anyone get all day yesterday. It's a great mat."  

"Get back to states on Tuesday will do some art then send it on to Matt [Herman]."  ​

Taking it easy.

Taking it easier.

Taking it easier.

What I wouldn't give for some 45 second rides right now! Looking forward to seeing this. 

As promised, Andrew has added some artwork.  

It's always nice to see people getting creative. I have no idea what any of that Spanish means but I'm sure it's all very nice. 

G

Baja Bound!

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Phileas is on the move!!! 

We have word from ASB and it's looking good. After a prolonged period of hibernation, it sounds like Phileas will be getting some waves with the Rincon crew...  In Mexico?! 

ASB getting prepped

Here's what Andrew said:

"Just dropped of the mat with my buddy whose doing the 24 hour drive to scorpion bay, I'll vonnect with him on Friday and finally get it in real waves" 

Look a mat wave too!  

So then, let's see what comes off all this. My mouth is watering over the thought of seeing some footage of Phileas on that wave. 

Didn't even think Mexico was going to be on the list! 

G