I
was
to
see
the
75-foot
beauty
position
herself
in
preparation
for
mooring.
We
watched
from
the
porch
as
crewman
headed
for
the
bow
to
secure
the
lines
and
wondered
who
else
we
might
be
on
board
for
this
leg
of
the
journey.
About
thirty
minutes
had
passed
as
we
waited
to
see
if
anyone
was
going
to
launch
a
dinghy
and
head
for
shore
when
my
host
David
suggested,
"Hey
why
don't
you
just
grab
one
of
the
bigger
boards
and…"
I
was
down
the
driveway
towards
the
pier
before
he
could
finish
his
sentence.
I
paddled
across
the
bay
and
circled
around
to
the
starboard
side
looking
for
signs
of
life
and
permission
to
board.
I
was
greeted
by
Florida
surfer,
Rob
Rohmann
who
directed
me
to
a
set
of
tires
that
worked
as
both
a
bumper
and
ladder
to
climb
aboard.
Rob
introduced
himself
and
ships
scientist,
Owen
Bruce,
from
the
UK
who
joined
the
Crossing
to
oversee
environmental
studies
and
reef
checks.
They
guys
happily
entertained
my
inquiries
about
life
aboard
the
boat
and
before
departing,
offered
me
an
invitation
to
join
them
that
evening
for
a
sunset
happy
hour.
The
afternoon
progressed
and
despite
the
lack
of
any
noticeable
swell,
activity
around
The
Trader
increased
with
each
passing
hour.
Traveling
surfers,
utilizing
their
other
maritime
skills,
ventured
out
and
around
the
bay
to
try
and
land
a
catch
to
provide
dinner
for
their
fellow
shipmates.
Scientists
took
advantage
of
the
tranquil
sea
to
perform
water
tests
and
reef
checks
to
record
the
condition
of
the
marine
environment.
It
was
evident
that
The
Crossing
was
about
more
than
just
surf
exploration.
It
was
more
like
a
mission
to
experience
and
help
sustain
the
lifestyle
that
so
many
of
us
had
come
to
love
and
possibly,
had
taken
for
granted.
I
returned
to
the
boat
in
the
later
afternoon
with
friend
Brennan
Wesley
and
we
were
greeted
by
Captain
Frank
Westgate,
from
Panama.
Frank
granted
us
a
tour
of
the
boat
and
showed
us
the
inner
workings
of
the
vessel
describing
the
day-to-day
activities
necessary
to
maintain
a
voyage
of
this
magnitude.
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