From the Executive Director

The days are getting shorter and the sunsets are growing more spectacular.   It is a good time to get some work done on your boat before the rainy season sets in.   At Call of the Sea, winter maintenance is in full swing with Seaward’s decks getting some attention, while Matthew Turner has spent a couple of weeks on the hard at Bay Ship & Yacht for routine work on the keel and the timbers below the water line.

We expect her back in Sausalito in the next few days where the work on the yards and running rigging will continue into the new year.  Meanwhile, the shore team is preparing for 2025, setting up new programs and working with schools to bring more young people out to explore San Francisco Bay.   We are excited to offer a new camp during winter break in mid-February and will be expanding our summer camp programs as well as planning for some overnight voyages to Drakes Bay and the Gulf of the Farallones.

Volunteer Ship Builder & Carpenter Tom Bissey

We are already looking ahead to a great start in the new year and to the next 40 years of Call of the Sea. The future of Brigantine Matthew Turner, Schooner Seaward, and the generations of young stewards of our ocean and coastal communities depends so much on our wonderful crew of volunteers and supporters. It was wonderful to see everyone this past Friday evening, when we hosted about 50 volunteers, old friends and new, here at our workshop to celebrate the holidays and share stories.

Thank you all for making this a wonderful year at Call of the Sea and please enjoy a festive holiday season with friends and family.  We look forward to seeing you in the new year!

Carla Thorson

Executive Director

Matthew Turner was hauled out for routine maintenance and biennial USCG inspection on November 20 at Bay Ship and Yacht in Alameda. Director of Vessel Operations, Captain Michael Rogers, oversaw the project. After some minor wood repairs and bottom paint, we have been cleared for service by the US Coast Guard and expect to splash on December 11th.

Meet Volunteer Marcy Taylor Pattinson

I came to San Francisco from the countryside north of Chicago in 1970, so The Bay Area has been home for the majority of my life. Even though Lake Michigan was very near by, I didn’t really sail until about 12 when I spent a number of summers on Cape Cod with family friends. That was on very tiny boats – nothing to compare with the mighty Matthew Turner! This Brigantine Tall Ship became such a passion of mine in 2013, when I was entering the Sausalito Art Festival, I looked over at a magnificent white tent. My curiosity got the better of me, so instead of going on into the art festival, I went over to the tent to investigate. Inside was a wonderland of sawdust, towering stacks of huge Doug Fir planks, tools and machinery and this gargantuan skeleton of wooden ribs.

A tall distinguished man was there as well – I learned it was Alan Olson – and I asked him all about what was going on. After he told me the mission and the enterprise, I facetiously said “OH, I’d LOVE to work on this!” Thinking that of course that would be impossible – I’d never even built a birdhouse out of popsicle sticks! The next thing Alan said was “come on down! we need volunteers.” The rest is history. I showed up the next Thursday and was there every week for seven years, unless I was traveling.

Because of my pure enjoyment with, and commitment to, the whole Call of The Sea purpose, I’ve kept up with my volunteer efforts, even after building Matthew Turner was completed. If there is a call for help at 60C to decorate for the Christmas party, help man the food booth at the Sausalito Jazz and Blues evening, make table decorations for the annual Gala…

Marcy working on dead-eyes in the tall ship tent

…give Sylvia a hand at the Galilee Harbor Maritime Day booth or step in as a docent for Matthew Turner tours – or just bring Porcupine Balls (chocolate treats) to the builders on Wednesdays – it’s my pleasure and honor.

I would enthusiastically say that the greatest thing I learned from building the Matthew Turner was continuing to believe in the power of the can-do spirit. The daunting yet spectacular idea of building that tall ship from scratch, with nearly all volunteers, might have seemed nearly impossible, but (and here I quote someone wiser than I) “The dream we dream alone is just a dream, but the dream we dream together is reality.” Marcy Taylor Pattinson

2025 Educational Sailing Preview

As we look toward 2025, we are thrilled to share some exciting new developments and opportunities for growth here at Call of the Sea. This year marks a big milestone for the education department, as we launch new programs and build on the success of our current programs.

We are launching our new Winter Camp Program for youth ages 7 -10. Winter Camp will run February 17th through the 21st. This program will provide hands-on immersive experiences in marine and nautical sciences. We can’t wait to see how the next generation of learners engages with the wonders of the San Francisco Bay! To sign up your child/children for Winter Camp please follow this link to our website to learn more: Winter Camp | Call of the Sea.  Following Winter Camp’s engaging debut, March will be just around the corner with the  return to the on-the-water adventures of outdoor educational sailing programs for schools, youth groups, and adults.

Students will have the chance to learn firsthand about navigation, environmental stewardship, and the beautiful art and science of sailing. This year, we are introducing new lessons and activities that build on our existing successful programming and enriching student experiences.

As our programs continue to grow in popularity, we are also increasing our capacity.  Our summer camps will be larger than ever, affording this fun and fulfilling experience to more students with additional sessions and room for more students in each session.

As we head into this new year of expanded programming, we are excited about the future and the positive impact we continue to make on our community and beyond. Thank you for being a part of our journey – we can’t wait to share these new adventures with you!

Community Sailing Dates

Don’t miss these Special Sailing dates in 2025

Photo by Benson Lee