One Ocean, One Enchanted Montauk Evening

At The Crow’s Nest, the Surfrider Foundation gathered an influential constellation of ocean advocates, cultural figures and East End tastemakers for a glamorous evening in service of the sea.

There are few settings more evocative of high summer than The Crow’s Nest in Montauk: amber light settling across Lake Montauk, linen-clad guests gathering beneath the trees and the unmistakable feeling that, for one evening, the very edge of the world has become its center.

On August 8, this storied waterfront retreat played host to the Surfrider Foundation’s annual One Ocean Gala an elegant organization of environmental advocacy, surf culture and effortless East End glamour.

As the sun descended over the water, an influential crowd of philanthropists, artists, athletes, designers and coastal conservationists arrived in support of a singular mission: protecting the world’s oceans, waves and beaches. It was an evening shaped as much by purpose as beauty, celebrating the natural landscape of Montauk while raising essential support for its preservation.

Guests gathered over craft cocktails before sitting down to an exceptional dinner prepared by The Crow’s Nest’s acclaimed culinary team. Thoughtfully curated silent and live auctions added to the evening, while a special musical performance by Diplo brought an unmistakable energy to the salt-kissed summer night.

It was quintessential Montauk, polished but never overly precious, glamorous without losing its soul. Here, celebration and conversation flowed beneath the fading light as discussions moved seamlessly between water quality, ocean-friendly gardens, local surf breaks and the future of America’s coastlines.

The evening honored legendary big-wave surfer and ocean advocate Greg Long, whose life and career embody an extraordinary reverence for the sea.

The only athlete in professional surfing history to capture the sport’s three most prestigious big-wave titles, Long is a two-time Big Wave World Champion and the most decorated surfer in the history of the Big Wave Awards. Yet his greatest legacy may be found beyond competition.

A member of the Surfrider Foundation since his teenage years, Long has evolved from a young advocate into one of the organization’s most compelling Global Ambassadors. Thoughtful, articulate and deeply attuned to the ocean’s power, he has used his platform to champion coastal stewardship, safety and the preservation of waves for generations to come.

The gala welcomed a glittering host committee that included Louise Riggio, Evan Yurman, Brandon Boyd, Rich Barton, Kit Keenan, Gucci Westman, Quincy Davis and Pat Schmidt, Christine Evangelista, Olivia Duncan, Kassia Meador, Hunter Kohl, Julian Schnabel, Savannah Buffett, Nina Bartell, Cameron Bishop, Cristina Lehr, Corey Senese, Negar Mohammadi, Dianne Vavra, Justin Bartha and Chris Molnar, among others.

With support from sponsors Patagonia, Faherty, LaCroix and Gray Whale, One Ocean advanced Surfrider’s expansive work at the local, state and national levels.

Across Eastern Long Island, that work is both immediate and deeply consequential. Surfrider’s volunteer-led Blue Water Task Force conducts water-quality testing at more than 80 locations, providing essential health information to coastal communities. Its Ocean Friendly Businesses network encourages local establishments to move away from single-use plastics, while year-round beach cleanups help protect the shores that define life on the East End.

In 2025 alone, regional volunteers removed 439 pounds of debris from Eastern Long Island beaches. The organization also supports dune-grass planting, nature-based approaches to climate resilience, the preservation of public beach access and the protection of Montauk’s pristine Moorland at Atlantic Headlands.

Founded in Malibu in 1984 by a small group of visionary surfers, the Surfrider Foundation has grown into a global grassroots movement of more than one million supporters, activists and members. Today, its network encompasses more than 250 volunteer-led chapters and student clubs across the United States, all united by the belief that our coastlines are not simply beautiful places to visit, but precious ecosystems entrusted to our care.

On this luminous August evening, that message felt especially resonant. Surrounded by Montauk’s untamed beauty, One Ocean became more than a gala. It was a love letter to the sea, and an elegant reminder that preserving the magic of the East End is perhaps the most important legacy of all.

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Images 1-5 Courtesy of: Paul Brooke Jr.