Driving down Empire Grade this morning, I saw familiar lights about 2 miles offshore of lighthouse point in Santa Cruz.  When I got to work, I scanned the horizon but saw nothing resembling the Sur. I turned on the VHF radio and hailed: “Research Vessel Point Sur, Point Sur, Point Sur, this is the Moss Landing Marine Labs, KOK785”.  I didn’t know if I could reach her at one watt, but clear as a bell, Chief Mate Paul Householder came back “Moss Landing, this is Point Sur, didn’t know there was anyone home at this hour”.  We switched to channel 7. At 0530, Paul was standing his last watch of a 96-day trip and I offered to secure the spring lines at the dock.  “Thanks” said Paul, “that way Gabe won’t break his neck jumping ashore”.  “It sure is good to be back in Moss Landing”.   “It’s good to have you back, you guys really did us proud up there, see you soon.”  I switched back to 16 and I met the vessel, that resembles a small city, rounding the jetty and coming into port.  Just as it was getting light, Jack threw the heaving lines. I caught them, pulled over and secured the mooring lines.  Although Jeff Varney was the captain for most of the trip, the retired captain, Steve Bliss, skippered the vessel from Seward, Alaska home, giving Jeff some deserved time off. Brought out of a 7 year retirement for this transit, Steve was beaming as he came into port, with (almost) nothing but praise for the crew and the condition of the ship. Steve was glad to be home and out from under cloudy weather.
    This marks the end of a landmark cruise in which the R/V Point Sur sailed over 8,300 miles from Central California, out the Aleutian Islands, into the Bering Sea and back home. The last leg of the trip crossed straight across the Gulf of Alaska and they were lucky to have 30 kt winds and a 10-foot following sea. The debriefing from Steve confirmed my understanding that Stewart and the Marine Operations team, crew and officers, together with help from our facilities crew and small boats staff, had pulled together over some very challenging mechanical and electrical issues and pulled off a very challenging and successful trip. This little ship is in better electrical, mechanical, hydraulic, load-handling and overall condition than it was when Steve left.  This performance may stretch the definition of a “Regional Class Vessel” but it also demonstrates the versatile capabilities of this vessel and should help serve more scientists in more interesting ways over the next few years.
    I think all MLMLers can be very proud of the Marine Operations team and “ the little vessel that could”.  I can’t wait to see the pictures.

Kenneth