At October’s end, Circle of Friends held its second signature author event, ALL IN: Author Talk with Chris Bertish. We were proud to welcome South African conservationist, surfer, businessman, author, filmmaker, and three-time Guinness World Record holder Chris Bertish to our sunny Ft. Lauderdale campus. Bertish discussed his book All In! The Atlantic Standup Paddle Crossing -93 Days Alone at Sea. The talk detailed his historic 2017 accomplishment of being the first individual to Stand Up Paddle (SUP) across the Atlantic Ocean, an arduous solo trip that spanned from Morocco, Africa to Antigua in the Caribbean. Bertish also recalled his experiences at sea which include but are not limited to, being hunted by a great white shark, being towed by a giant squid, and capsizing multiple times. Attendees were equal parts enthralled by Bertish’s harrowing journey, and uplifted by his positive attitude, forged through his experience at sea, which shows that one can accomplish anything that they put their mind to.