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The Specs.
Weight: 95 tons
Overall Length: 75'
Breadth (width): 17'6"
Construction: steel with an aluminum
wheelhouse
Maximum Speed: 9.5 kph
Range: 5,000 miles
Miles traveled since 1999: 77,872
Guests: Tom Carroll, Matt Hoy, Gary
Elkerton,
Nathan Fletcher, Fred Patacchia, Jack
Johnson,
Kelly Slater, Lisa Andersen and hundreds
of other surfers from Nineteen
countries. |
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The Indies Trader prior to her new paintjob.
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By now the Indies
Trader, or the Quiksilver Crossing boat,
has to be one of the most famous boats
in the world. After all, the distinctly
orange and blue colored hull has
traveled the same amount of distance as
circling the globe over three times, has
been featured in hundreds of surf photos
around at perfect breaks, and has been
the habitat for some of the world's most
famous surfers.
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Cosy!
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Built in 1972 for salvage business
purposes, the Indies Trader was cut in
1992 and six feet were added to the
boat, along with two new cabins. In
1999, the boat took on the familiar
Polynesian pattern on the hull, and
according to Quiksilver, "embarked
on a mission to explore the world's
oceans for surf, contribute to the
environment, and provide empathy for
local cultures and customs."
The Quiksilver Crossing also undertook a
unique environmental mission with a
program called Reef Check. By providing
information studies and the monitoring
of reefs around the world, together
their goal is "to spread awareness
and show communities how to monitor and
manage their own reefs" - to
prevent further damage from such abuses
as over fishing. |
Along with a captain, cook and three
Indonesian crewmembers, the Indies
Trader constantly interchanges guests
every two weeks. There are eight berths
in four cabins, and these are usually
inhabited by one photographer, one
marine biologist, one cinematographer,
and four or five surfers - the most
people that can stay on the boat at one
time is thirteen.
The cabins are comfortable, and there's
plenty of deck space on top to stretch
out. Amenities such as a stereo system
and DVD player help pass the time when
traveling between islands or taking
breaks between surfs. A total of 360
guests have walked the famous deck of
the Trader, and they've eaten
approximately 55,680 meals. Thanks to
the friendly, knowledgeable, and
hard-working crews, those guests have
discovered 98 new breaks around the
world - it's safe to say that when
you're on the Crossing you never know
what you may find. |
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The Roxy girls refuelling.
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