SAIL, EXPLORE, LEARN

From the Executive Director

At the Tall Ships America Annual Conference in the first week of February, we were invited aboard the USS Constellation, one of the Historic Ships in Baltimore moored in the city’s Inner Harbor. An 1855 sloop of war, she was the last sail-only warship built by the United States Navy. Constellation was armed with a battery of sixteen 8-inch (203 mm) shell-firing guns and four 32-pounder guns mounted on her gun deck in the main battery. On her spar deck, she carried a pair of chase guns: a 30-pounder Parrott rifle was placed in the bow and a 20-pounder Parrott rifle was placed in the stern. She also carried three 12-pounder boat howitzers.  The ship's crew numbered 21 officers and 265 enlisted men.  With a storied career of service during the Civil War, intercepting slave ships on the Atlantic coast, and as a training ship, she is now a National Historic Landmark. Having undergone substantial restoration work on her timbers in the last 20 years, she is today lovingly maintained by a dedicated and highly skilled crew that includes a former Matthew Turner shipmate.

The world of tall ships is a small, tight-knit community even though our ships are operating on both coasts, and the annual conference is a great opportunity to gather and share knowledge. Call of the Sea’s Board Member Alice Cochran, Education Manager Samantha Martinez, and I soaked up a lot of great ideas for engaging our young wannabe sailors onboard Seaward and Matthew Turner.

My key takeways—keep a close eye out for rotting timbers; take good care of your crew, and maybe Matthew Turner ought to have a cannon!

Carla Thorson

Executive Director

Winter is a crucial time to invest in the future of our ships and programs.  A gift in February is especially appreciated, as it directly supports essential maintenance and educational program planning, contributing to our long-term stability.  Donate today for a strong 2025 sailing season! 

1. Volunteer crew raising the lower topsail yard.

2. A gorgeous day for up-rigging the ship's spars!

3. 120 ship's blocks were refurbished this winter.

Call of the Sea Tall Ship Celebration

Join us for a

Day of Family Fun

on the Waterfront!

Saturday April 26, 2025  

10 am-2 pm 

at the Bay Model Visitor Center in Sausalito

Meet Volunteer of the Month Frank Schlosser

I was born in Allentown, PA, and didn’t get interested in boats until I moved to California. I restored an old canoe and then built my first cedar strip canoe.  Then I got interested in sailing so I built a Cat-rigged Herreshoff dinghy, using all traditional boat building techniques.  I used to travel to Cape Cod frequently and was always fascinated by the wooden boats. 

One day on Facebook, I saw Call of the Sea was looking for volunteers and it seemed it was for a great cause. I have been volunteering for approximately 10 years. My favorite part has been working with all the great volunteers.

Frank Schlosser, left, with fellow volunteer Mark Muller.

It didn’t matter if we were sanding for weeks on end, the camaraderie and the fascinating people I met kept me engaged in the whole building process. 

Shipwrights Franz Baichl and Richard O’Keefe taught me how important it was to be precise. They really upped my craft.  Here I am with Franz.

With the scale of the build, I learned so much. My time working with Alan Olson was some of the best times.  We often chatted about life and our experiences. I learned a lot from “the old man and the sea”. His adventures inspired me, and encouraged me to buy my first sailboat on the San Francisco Bay.

Community Sailing

Other Special Sailing dates:

• 3/23 & 3/24 Sail GP Viewing
• 4/4 First Sail of the Year
• 4/19 Pre-Earth Day Sail
• 4/27 Opening Day on the Bay
• 5/11 Mother's Day Sail

Overnight Voyages in 2025

From June-September, there are five 4-5 day voyages scheduled for Matthew Turner, for Youth and Families, as well as Adults.

Testimonial from a parent:

"Thank you so much for your service to the community in giving children the opportunity to explore the world around them in such a special way! John had the best time. He came home everyday excited for what the next day would bring. And, our son is usually slow to warm. The camp leaders, the captain and the itinerary were clearly chosen and developed from experience and the wisdom of knowing what children could and would like to learn from. John has already begged us to sign him up again next year!"

Booking now for Spring and Fall 2025!

Check out the Ship's Store