March '24 News & Updates

SAIL, EXPLORE, LEARN

Month One: Learning on the Job

Concluding my first month as the Interim Executive Director of Call of the Sea, a number of things have surprised me. Let me share a few of them with you.

I am blown away by the dedication of our staff and volunteers. Everyday there are volunteers hard at work in our shop, building and repairing ship gear. Their work is beautiful, especially the varnished finishes for shipboard cabinetry.

And the efforts of the crew are equally impressive. Two weeks ago they removed Matthew Turner’s top foremast for some repair work. This was a delicate aerial ballet, lifting, turning, lowering and removing the mast, which weighs several hundred pounds. The slow, steady, and painstaking effort paid off — no damage and no injuries on this impressive job. And now, the mast is repaired, repainted, inspected and remounted, ready to go.

Tanith, an expert rigger, guides the foremast removal from aloft.

COTS 40th Anniversary Tall Ship Celebration

A FREE fun filled day celebrating

40 years of our on-the-water education!

Saturday April 20, 11 am - 2 pm

11 am - 1 pm: Tour the ships, learn to tie knots and make rope with Call of the Sea!

11 am - 2 pm: Engage with Sailing Science Center and Spauldings Marine Center Exhibits

11 am - 2 pm: Enjoy paella, ice cream and bev’s for sale. Listen to Sea Shanties & Old Time Tunes

2 pm - 5 pm: Join a sail on Matthew Turner (advance ticket purchase required for sailing)

Donate $40 for 40 years

An Interview With Volunteer Gordon Worley

Where do you come from, and were you involved with boats there?

I spent a 40+ year career as an emergency department nurse, helicopter flight nurse, emergency nurse practitioner, and educator. I retired in 2022 from the UC Davis Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing where I was an Assistant Clinical Professor in the Nurse Practitioner and Physician Assistant programs. I have also had a long-time interest in the specialty of wilderness medicine and have had the opportunity to teach wilderness medicine classes across the country, in Canada, and in Europe. This has allowed me to be able to teach Wilderness First Aid classes for the sailing crews at COTS. We have our next class coming up in March.

Call of the Sea thanks the many volunteers who help us fulfill our mission!

Richardson Bay Maritime Association Fundraiser

Call of the Sea is honored to support the Richardson Bay Maritime Association by providing Matthew Turner for a special sail to fund the final phase of the Charles Van Damme Paddle Wheel restoration.

Saturday April 13

12:30- 5:00 pm

Hors D'oeuvres and wine
Sea Chanties by Marin Mens Choir

Learn more at RBMA.ORG

Rotary Club Donation in memory of Earl Johnson

On February 8, 2024, the Rotary Club of Tiburon Sunset granted a $1000 donation to Call of the Sea in memory of former member Earl Johnson, who was a longtime volunteer at Educational Tall Ship, helping build the brigantine Matthew Turner. The donation was at the recommendation of Bill McNicholas, who attended Call of the Sea’s Fall Event last year and was inspired by the vision of this organization, to empower generations of students of all ages and backgrounds to become environmental stewards and transform their world through on-the-water field experiences. READ MORE

MATTHEW TURNER Sailing Season Begins April 5

Join a sail on Matthew Turner!

See Full Calendar Here

Now booking School and Youth sails for Fall and Spring!

Apply for a scholarship

Support Call of the Sea