The Mystic Whaler: A Schooner for the Schools and Community
Hello Santa Barbara! There’s a new charity in town. Organizations devoted to charitable endeavors are the beating heart of our generous community, but this foundation brings something very special into the mix. Officially designated as the Central Coast Ocean Adventure Foundation (CCOAF) its main venue is a 110-foot-tall ship called the Mystic Whaler, areplica of a 19th century coastal cargo schooner, dedicated to promoting ocean conservation, environmental stewardship, marine related education programs, activities, and events to inspire and delight the young… of all ages!
The CCOAF is the brainchild of Sarah and Roger Chrisman, a couple deeply involved in Santa Barbara’s cultural and community endeavors. As a longtime director of the Santa Barbara Maritime Museum and owners of the yacht Polariis, Roger and his wife, Sarah, share a common interest in the museum’s educational programs and are longtime supporters. “The museum had been known up and down the coast for its innovative Tall Ship Program for 4th to 6th grade kids to experience the life as a sailor during the 1800s as did Richard Henry Dana in Two Years Before the Mast,” shared Roger Chrisman. “The Spirt of Dana Point, a tall ship berthed at Dana Point Harbor, owned by the Ocean Institute, sailed north to Santa Barbara each year to host the Maritime Museum’s program. In March of 2020 the Spirit was needed at home due to the sinking of a sister ship, thus ending the Maritime Museum’s Tall Ship Program.” It was the moment the Chrismans stepped in to search for another vessel to resume this innovative program.
The journey began online with ‘Tall Ships for Sale,’ however, finding a schooner similar to the Spirit of Dana Point, outfitted for a learning environment, became quite a challenge. In Mystic, Connecticut, a reproduction of a late 19th-century cargo schooner with 3,000 square feet of sail, a steel hull, and a diesel engine appeared to the surprise of the Chrismans. Moored at the harbor in Mystic, she is known to have carried up to 52 passengers on day sails and 31 on overnight trips, food service included. On board are Italian oak floors and fir wainscoting with mahogany accents along with six bathrooms with hot showers. Built in 1967 as a tribute to the coastal trading schooners, she hosted thousands of visitors before being retired in 1990. A trip to the East Coast followed and after several months the Chrismans had themselves a tall ship!
“So… now we had a ship,” laughed Sarah Chrisman, “but no crew, no specific plan to get her to the West Coast or exactly how she could best be utilized considering all the possibilities.” After consulting with Greg Gorga, executive director of the Maritime Museum, Captain Christine Healy was recommended, then interviewed and consequently hired – sight unseen. “Hiring Christine was the best decision we ever made! She literally dropped into our laps and had experience on tall ships. It was the perfect match,” Chrisman exclaimed. “Her first task was to get us to California.” In the weeks that followed Healy hired a crew, and planned the voyage down the Atlantic Coast, over the Panama Canal and up the Pacific Coast to San Diego. As the Mystic Whaler could not be accommodated long term in Santa Barbara, the Channel Islands harbor became her new home. “In the process, we realized that we had a tremendous asset and the ship could be utilized in other ways than what was originally envisioned. We decided to expand our vision to include the California coast with a focus on Ventura and Santa Barbara counties. Our board is still discussing community service projects and events that might serve our mission.”
Visitors to the Santa Barbara Harbor have seen the 110-foot tall ship Mystic Whaler docked for most of October. The schooner appears regularly in service to the Santa Barbara Maritime Museum’s Tall Ship Program beginning with kids in the 4th grade. This program is now conducted by the CCOAF’s educational team, whose philosophy rests on the well-proven fact that practical application and a lived experience deepen and strengthen understanding and retention of newly learned concepts. Sailing and navigating a traditionally rigged tall ship such as Mystic Whaler intrinsically offer nautical skills with the application of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) academic principles. The challenge of handling such a sizable vessel is also the perfect medium for social and emotional learning. The young sailors must step out of their comfort zones and practice effective communication, efficient organization, courage, and self-discipline… in the 1800s no less!
While in Santa Barbara, hundreds of kids from Santa Barbara County schools will have the opportunity to experience a sail through time with this magnificent ship. “Mystic Whaler offers young people a unique and inspirational platform that truly provides long-lasting personal and academic benefits,” remarked Captain Christine Healy. “In keeping with our mission, we are happy to bring her here for the SBMM Tall Ship Program.” The schooner will be returning to the harbor multiple times to promote ocean conservation, environmental stewardship, and marine-related programs for both the young and those just a bit older. Do check the websites of both the CCOA Foundation and the Santa Barbara Maritime Museum.
