About Us

The mission of the nonprofit organization Call of the Sea is to inspire people of all ages and backgrounds to connect with the sea through educational programs aboard traditional sailing vessels that focus on marine sciences, nautical heritage, the ocean environment and careers in the maritime profession.

Our youth-oriented sail training programs are designed to build self-confidence, self-awareness, discipline, and the teamwork and leadership skills inherent in being part of a ship's crew. The corporation's operations are based in the San Francisco Bay region.

Call of the Sea relies on volunteers and the financial support of people in the community. If you'd like to help us change young lives, either by volunteering your time or through financial support, please Contact us.

Who We Are

Call of the Sea is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose educational mission is to inspire people of all ages and backgrounds, especially youth, to connect to the sea and San Francisco Bay through sailing a traditional vessel. Our programs focus on the ocean environment, marine sciences, our nautical heritage, the maritime professions, teamwork, and leadership.

What We Do

Call of the Sea offers educational programs that keep students involved, active, and connected with the maritime world.

Bay Explorations, a three-hour sail primarily for 4th and 5th graders, includes hands-on learning stations in sailing, California coastal history, navigation, and the Bay environment. Instructors from our program partner, the Bay Model, lead the ecological component.

Our Voyage Seaward ocean-going adventures give youth the unique opportunity to work as a team as they sail on a challenging 5-day, 4-night voyage beyond the Golden Gate.

We also work with other Bay Area nonprofits, schools, and youth groups such as Canal Alliance (San Rafael), Tall Ship Education Academy (San Francisco), Lake Merritt Boathouse (Oakland), Kids for the Bay (Berkeley) and youth-at-risk groups to provide customized and inspiring educational programs. Schooner Seaward is a great bridge to the Bay and California coast; we welcome the opportunity to work with local programs.

A variety of special events and private charters as well as Public Sails round out Seaward's programs. Friday Sunset Sails, Saturday family-oriented Adventure Sails and challenging Farallon Voyages help connect the public to San Francisco Bay and beyond.

Vessel and Crew

Call of the Sea owns and operates the vessel Seaward, an 82-foot classic staysail schooner, constructed of steel and specifically designed for educational programs. Inspected and licensed by the U.S. Coast Guard, she sails under a Coast Guard certified captain, with a professional crew of experienced sailors and trained educators.

Seaward accommodates up to 40 passengers on day sails and 15 on overnight programs. She is accessible to a diverse population of students and adults in the spirit of "Your Boat, Your Bay". Though her homeport is Sausalito, Seaward visits many ports in the Bay and Northern California and voyages to Southern California and Mexico during the winter.

For more information about schooner Seaward, visit our vessel page.

History

The present organization and leadership of Call of the Sea comes from the collaborative merger in December 2004 of two like-minded groups, "Voyage Seaward for Learning" and "Call of the Sea". We joined our efforts, merged boards, and adopted the name Call of the Sea for this rechartered and revitalized educational nonprofit.

Supported by a $25,000 matching grant from the Renaissance Fund of Oakland, Call of the Sea purchased the business of Hawaiian Chieftain, a local tall ship that had been sold to the East Coast but left in its wake fine educational programs and a loyal following. With the Bay Model as our program partner, Call of the Sea added environmental science to complement the historical and nautical components.

The Board

Carter C.C. Collins - Musician, activist for youth, social and environmental justice
Graham Green - Financial advisor, sailor
Tom Hand - San Francisco Bar Pilot
Chris Kieliger - Maritime Attorney
Dave Macgregor - Physician, sailor
Ken Neal - Executive Director, Call of the Sea
Alan Olson - Captain, boatbuilder, original founder
John Racanelli - (Chairman) Organizational consultant, environmental advocate
Gary Schwarzman - Business executive, sail training advocate, author
Ron Steinau - Competitive sailor, business development, marketing
Dave Stuhlbarg - Maritime captain and educator
Jeremy Wagner - Business executive, youth advocate, coach
Johanna Wolf - Radio Marketing and Development