It all started on June 15th when one of my very dear clients called me up to chat before I go to work like we normally do. This phone call was little bit different though. Before hanging up he happened to mention a special shipment he needed my help with. My client, James, asked me if we would have any interest in arranging the shipping of a 40' Catamaran vessel by air from Anchorage, and providing for escorting of the vessel to make sure that it was handled with care. Before even knowing all the details, I immediately agreed and sent him our pricing to which he approved. As we got closer to the shipment and were able to speak more about it, James informed me that the 40' Catamaran was very time sensitive. Apparently the captain of this vessel was prepping to sail it around the world for the second time with a start date of July 4th. That date specifically was set in stone as the water was just right and the ice was newly melted, so that he could start his journey. I was nervous we wouldn't make it on time, but nevertheless I kept the faith. James sent Capt. Yvan my contact details and informed me he would be in touch.
I arrived into Anchorage on June 20th and previous arrangements had been made for me to meet the customer at his hotel by 6:00 pm that evening. Sure enough an email came in close to 6:00 from the Captain Yvan and off I went by Lyft services (on a crazy side note I also found out that Uber/Lyft were just approved to operate in Anchorage only just 2 days prior to my arrival!!!). The driver pulled up outside of what appeared to be a hostel and said "are you sure this is the place? I can wait here if you like but this isn't a hotel ma'am". I was nervous of course, a Hostel? This captain was spending a pretty penny to ship a vessel he planned to sail around the world but was staying in a Hostel? No way is this the place I said to myself.....I checked my email again to look at the address and confirmed that I was indeed at the correct address.
okay so where was I? oh yes, the Hostel.... I cautiously went up to the door and was greeted by the owner and I informed him "I'm here to see Capt. Yvan, we have a meeting scheduled"? The caretaker looked puzzled and said "Nobody is here by that name, let me check the log". He cordially invited me in and as he was checking I looked around to soak in my surroundings. The home was quite large with several community areas including the kitchen and a sitting area close by the front desk where a large table was placed. I quietly sat down to wait for his findings and to my surprise the caretaker said "This is very strange, nobody is here by that name, are you sure you are in the right place?" I checked my email again and confirmed that this was the address, he went on to explain to me that his hostel had been opened for over 20 years housing people from all around the world and maybe there was a mix up somehow in his log. About that same time, two gentlemen were walking up the stairs to come in. Surely these two HAD to be Capt. Yvan and his traveling companion? Indeed it was them, I was able to finally breathe a sigh of relief!
Both gentleman checked in and proceeded to sit down at the same large table while I simultaneously introduced myself, "Hi, I'm Laura and it's so very nice to meet you both. Tomorrow we start the big day of unloading your Catamaran and securing it for the plane ride, do you have any questions"? They both looked at each other and spoke French and then Capt. Yvan looked at me and asked "We would like to have a camera crew filming the operation if that is okay"? Thankfully I was prepared for this question as my customer already mentioned their request and had previously denied to them the same that: absolutely NO CAMERAS allowed in the warehouse due to safety concerns. I looked at them both and just said, "Lets see what the air carrier says in the morning, maybe I can speak with them but typically this is not allowed. However seeing how this is a special circumstance maybe they can make an exception but no promises." This seemed to appease the Capt. tremendously, he smiled and thanked me for coming to help him and that he would meet me in the morning. We shook hands and out the door I went to catch another Lyft back to my hotel, day one was a success!!
As I was waiting for my ride, I contemplated again the Hostel and how I really was foreign to these kind of accommodations. Having never taking the opportunity to travel abroad, Hostels are more common in places that I've never been too and this one really seemed quaint and kind of neat. I glanced back at the place to relish the setting and it's beauty and captured the photo below:
I woke up bright and early the 2nd day and arrived at the air carriers facility around 7:00 am to meet Capt. Yvan and his partners. We were welcomed at the door by Bob who had in his hand reflective vests and names tags for each of us; he then led us to the conference room for a safety briefing. Before entering the conference room I managed to pull Bob aside outside the door and whispered "my customer is really wanting to video the unloading/loading of the Catamaran, is this possible? If not I totally understand". Bob advised he would speak to the manager and see what he could do but he wasn't going to hold his breath on this approval. I could only shake me head with understanding and in agreement but on the inside I was hoping they would cave and make an exception. (fingers crossed)
We all sat down and made the introductions and to my surprise the Captain asked if he could use the TV in the conference to show us a video of his previous "around the world" sailing. Of course everyone agreed and we sat eagerly for him to start (here is the link of the YouTube video): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3AYNv2IR_5A The whole time I sat in wonder of the accomplishments of this amazing human being sitting in front of me, never in a million years had I met anyone so passionate about sailing solo through rough waters. Coincidentally while this thought crossed my mind, The Capt. then mentions to all of us that his father taught him the ways of the sea when he was a little boy and how he loves to navigate by the stars. When the video was finished playing he began to talk about this journey being videoed as well and that the documentation would be submitted to the "National Discovery" channel. At this point how can anyone say "no" to videoing on the tarmac? The air carriers reluctantly approved that his camera crew could be in the warehouse for filming only and to please be careful. The Capt. and his crew were ecstatic to say the very least and off we went inside the warehouse to begin the unloading.
There were seven of us total , Capt Yvan and his crew along with myself counted for 4 and the rest were the air carrier staff. No time was wasted and immediately everyone started unloading the vessel to stage for the aircraft loading. I stood back in awe as I watched these men work as a team.
After the crew unload the vessel and positioned it for loading aboard the aircraft, I noticed a box of what looked to be oil, propane and some other hazardous items. To say that the goods were loose and not packaged properly for transport was an understatement. Unfortunately this was not caught at origin and the Captain never mentioned the shipping of hazardous items. Luckily nothing happened while the goods were being shipped by sea in the container, but the magnitude of large quantities blew my mind. In my disbelief I spoke with the warehouse staff and they mentioned an offsite facility that could manage it. Only one small problem, time was not on our side.
I rushed quickly to load all the hazardous cargo into my rental and drove it down to TGI Freight where I met with the owner Todd Clark. He let me know it would be a huge task to identify/label and package all the goods properly so that they can be loaded on the aircraft. Since he was also aware of the time constraints he mentioned would have some of his workers stay late. One a side note, sometimes in the transportation and logistics industry it's common for things like this to pop up unexpectedly. Finding a good company to handle hazardous items is a rarity and I was so very thankful for Todd and his teams willingness to work with us.
As day two was coming to an end, I remained hopeful and in good spirits that we could get the Captain's beautiful vessel loaded along with all his hazardous necessities needed for a safe journey around the globe. I assured the Captain by phone not to worry.......he would have his propane to cook his fresh catch during his sail along with his lithium camera batteries he needed to record his journey.
When the last day came to get the Captain on his way, I couldn't wait to finish up so I could explore Alaska. I mean what are the chances I will ever be able to experience the beauty of the "Last Frontier" in my life ever again? And WOW, would you just look at that weather in the middle of June? Being born and raised in the South I couldn't help but bask in the chilly air before I set off to get this Catamaran loaded up.
I arrived at the warehouse terminal by 6:30 am to find as promised all the hazardous items packed up and ready to go on the dock. We were finally ready to load up!! Since the Captain insisted again his camera crew be allowed on the tarmac and being it was my responsibility to ensure their safety; I escorted them to watch the final loading of the vessel. Nothing can describe this process better than pictures and video.
After the vessel and supplies were finished being loaded, I asked Capt. Yvan Bourgnon for a picture of just him and I. I also wished him safe travels and will never forget our last conversation and what he said to me. One last side note, I didn't know where the words came from at the time but I still remember the quote to this day very clearly: "Twenty years from now, you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than those you did. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from safe harbor. Catch the wind in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover."~Mark Twain.
Save travels Capt. Yvan from the American Lamprecht Transport Family!!
