Report and photos by SurfTaiwan.com

Fuel, floatation and fireworks aren’t normally a combination you need to worry about. But when witnessing the launching of a new fishing vessel all of these factors come into play. And of course the fuel is put into the new motor before the fireworks and firecrackers are lit.

Then enters the crane that’s to place said boat into the harbour. So we now have a freshly fueled boat, dangling from a crane with lighted fireworks and firecrackers being lowered into the water.

With much merriment from the new owners (and no doubt the relieved crane driver) all went well. Miraculously the boat stayed in one piece and floated, no problems at all. Can you imagine launching a boat in this manner in the Western world? You’d be arrested on the spot. Not so in Taiwan, just another day with lots of smiles (often beetlenut tainted) and some firecrackers.

The surf so far this season has also been greeted with smiles of pure surf stoke - no beetlenut or firecrackers needed.

With system after system coming from the north there’s been an abundance of swell. While the much-hyped Eddie swell failed to live up to expectations in Hawaii, we reveled in the early formation of this system before it slid east to Hawaii. And this has been but one of many.

Points, rivermouths, beachbreaks and hidden gems have all been working over the past few weeks. But with virtually non-stop surfing it’s been fantastic to be able to relax surf weary muscles in scenic hot springs, cruise some out-of-the-way temples, hit the local fruit and seafood markets and generally have a bloody great time enjoying all that Taiwan has to offer.

With more swell on the way, we’ll be sure to be post more pics and share some of the waves with you. Maybe in 2014, it’s time to surf somewhere a little different? //NEIL 'MOONWALKER' ARMSTRONG