Save after pressing Start in the middle of taking a step so you are in front of the sailor but facing to the right.
Before: (x = nothing, P = you, S = dude)
P x
x S
After:
x P
x S
Then shut off the game and you will find that you appear to face to the right. Because of this, you can surf. However, as always, you actually face forward, to go ahead and surf through the sailor and onto the S. S. Anne.
Worked multiple times for me.