' Girl Pat ' tied up in Philadelphia by US Customs . The British trawler ' Girl Pat ' ,aboard which Skipper Osborne made his famous voyage , was boarded by United States custom officers off the Delaware Capes and taken into Philadelphia , Pennsylvania , where she was tied up . No official reason was given for the action . Photo shows ' Uncle ' Tom Copely ( left in cap ) , the ship ' s steward and Captain P W Lawrence ( in hat ) leaving the ' Girl pat ' for customs inspection . 5 April 1937