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SURFING'S GREATEST VOYAGE - THE QUIKSILVER CROSSING - CHANGES TACK

The greatest voyage of surfing discovery in history, the Quiksilver Crossing, is changing tack after more than six years of global exploration and scientific research. Since the launch of the Quiksilver Crossing in March 1999, the MV Indies Trader has traveled 116,000 nautical miles, more than four times the circumference of the globe. The boat has finished its Crossing voyage in Hawaii, the spiritual home of surfing. Quiksilver CEO Bob McKnight said that the Quiksilver Crossing will continue as a project into the future using various means of transport to the best waves in the world.

"We are very proud of what we have achieved in the past six years and we wish to build on that as the Quiksilver Crossing enters a new phase," McKnight said. Crossing founder Bruce Raymond said the original intention of the project was to find surf, to respect local cultures, and to contribute to the environment and, along with education, those objectives will remain the primary focus of the Crossing.
"Since the beginning just over six years ago, we have stayed true to our mission statement," Raymond said.

"Indies Trader captain and owner, Martin Daly, first came to us with the idea of exploring the world for surf and we added the other important elements for the project to become the Quiksilver Crossing. Martin has been one of the key drivers of the Crossing and Quiksilver acknowledges that he is recognised as one of surfing's great explorers."

Raymond added that the Crossing had discovered more than 115 new surfing breaks, which have been kept confidential. "We have left them in the same state we found them for future surfing explorers to find and experience for themselves," he said.

Nearly 400 people have been passengers on the Crossing, experiencing the endless opportunities of life on the ocean.
Last month the Crossing completed a full circumnavigation of the globe as it traveled from mainland USA to Hawaii. Indies Trader captain Martin Daly said: "We have visited 56 countries and 26 states and four territories of the USA. I hope to think we have been positive ambassadors of the sport of surfing and I am grateful for all the waves that we have shared and the hospitality that we have been shown by people all over the world."

During the voyage, the Quiksilver Crossing has been contributing to the scientific knowledge of the world's coral reefs through the Reef Check global coral reef monitoring program, and the project has been acclaimed by the United Nations' Environment Program.

"We will be continuing our strong relationship with Reef Check and overall, by any judgment, I believe we have contributed to surfing and the marine environment in a very positive way," Raymond said.

The director of Reef Check, Dr Gregor Hodgson, said the Indies Trader has been used as a mobile laboratory during the Crossing mission.
"With the Quiksilver Crossing, we have nailed down any last doubts about the status of remote coral reefs in the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans. The scientific results show that even the most distant reefs have been affected by human activities and that overfishing is the primary problem facing most reefs. With Quiksilver's continuing help, we are working to set up conservation areas that will solve this problem."

The Quiksilver Crossing was launched in Cairns, Australia, in March 1999 and has traveled across the Pacific to Melanesia and Polynesia, through the Indian Ocean as far south as South Africa, through the Mediterranean to Europe, and across the Atlantic to South America, Central America and mainland USA, before journeying across to Hawaii.

The Crossing has discovered more than 115 new surfing breaks.

Seven-time world champion Kelly Slater has been a frequent passenger on The Crossing.

Veronica Kay meets the locals.

Tom Carroll gets Crossing tubetime.