As acting co-chief scientists, Jen Jackson and I finalized our cruise plan with Captain Ian and Liz Brenner. We were concerned that portions of our plan would be scrapped do to naval exercises and that we would have some serious regrouping to do. Of the two stations (sampling sites) that they were concerned about, we ended up pulling one due to anticipated rough water conditions, and the other station ended up being OK with Navy for the dates and times we were planning to be in the area. The remainder of the day was spent loading our gear onto the ship for departure – a process that was made possible through the herculean efforts of our resident technicians (restechs) Meghan and Robb, the crew of the New Horizon, and the Scripps dock crew. Thanks!