We spent a few days surfing the world's longest wave in the forgotten waters of Mantachèn bay. Anchored so close to the break we could paddle in, our nights were a bit rolly, but the nearly quarter mile long ride we could catch at the rocks of las Islitas made the midnight tossing well worth it. Small, but deliciously long and rampy, the south west swell transformed the still waters of las Islitas point into a longboarder's dream, but with a little something for every level of our buddy boat crew. I'm not a longboarder but the silky and seemingly eternal right made me wish I was. Just around the corner from las Islitas is the legendary stoner's point which wasn't firing when we were there but according to the locals, come summer southerly swells , holds up to 10 -14 ft giving the lucky surfer a ride all the way to the shores of the Bay. Stoner' point was famously "discovered" by Long Beach surf photographer Leo Hatzel in the early 60s and became known as the "secret spot". It held the record for the world's longest wave in the 1970s. I guess it was once well known as the wander surfer's dream wave.
Today, the bay is lazy and feels almost forgotten. On a good day there are a handful of local old salty dogs who whoop and holler when anyone gets a clean ride. Their smiles are infectious. A plethora of brightly colored shacks and restaurants, mostly empty, line the shore. All are a reminder of the potentiality of the longest wave in the world - and the darker side of the bay which has largely hindered its popularity among tourists (the infamous jejenes of San Blas, or the biting sand flies). By sunset the break clears out. We dingy back to the boats and wait for the sky to turn to a smoky coconut haze - as locals burn coconut husks to ward off the tiny tourist killers. The eerie silence and endless starry skies make it easy to imagine the bay in its former glory, as a hideout for pirates such as John Clipperton who would wait for unexpecting Spanish ships to pass by and ravage their "booty". Rich in history. Strong in stoke. For all those who venture to the "longest wave in the world" a treasure trove awaits.
