‘Mystic Whaler’: The Tall Ship Returns

Ahoy, Santa Barbarans! Have you noticed the presence of Santa Barbara’s Official Tall Ship, the Mystic Whaler, docked in the protective waters of the Santa Barbara harbor? She returns to Santa Barbara from the Ventura harbor where she hosted a series of marine related educational programs and dock tours for young people and guests. After spending the entire month of April with us, Mystic Whaler has returned and will be here from June 1-13. In her role as the central coast’s floating classroom, Mystic Whaler travels up and down the coastline presenting innovative hands-on educational experiences on board for young people. You’ll see her two 83 feet tall masts along the harbor walkways, the breakwater and, of course, on the water. You might want to take a closer look… I certainly do!

For now, allow me take you aboard for one of Mystic Whaler’s educational adventures that took place during her previous stay here in April: A hands-on, immersive sailing experience for a group of 5^th grade students from Franklin Elementary School. This particular program was an example of the best our town has to offer, a philanthropic and educational partnership formed by Mystic Whaler’s nonprofit organization, Mystic Ocean Adventures (MOA), the Santa Barbara Maritime Museum (SBMM), and the Franklin School. For many (if not most) of the 5^th graders, this was their very first time on the Channel, a short four miles from school! 

In discovering more about this successful partnership and how it came to be, I’m reminded that in the not-so-distant past, the tall ship model had been established by a previous program offered by the Maritime Museum. The earlier version took place aboard The Spirt of Dana Point, a tall ship berthed at Dana Point Harbor that sailed north to Santa Barbara once a year. Sadly, in 2020, the Spirit was called home due to the sinking of its sister ship, also an educational platform, ending a popular and well-attended program. Through the generosity of long time SBMM supporters, Sarah and Roger Chrisman, a new tall ship, Mystic Whaler, was found and brought from the East Coast through the Panama Canal to the South Coast as the education platform of Mystic Ocean Adventures, a 501(c)(3) philanthropic organization. Mystic Whaler not only served to reinstate the museum’s tall ship program, but MOA now conducts its own marine education opportunities for the benefit of schools and organizations up and down the coast.

After treating myself to a Latte at Dart Coffee located on the Maritime Museum’s patio, I was able to dive a little deeper in Franklin School’s April adventure thanks to Jason Statucki, SBMM’s education coordinator. “We have a long-standing relationship with Franklin’s 5^th grade teaching team,” he explained. “A father-son duo; James Coronado and his son. Pretty unique!” Statucki added with a laugh. “The kids call them ‘Mister C’ and ‘Mister C-A’ so as not to get them confused.” The father-son team had participated in the SBMM’s Marine Science programs and decided they wanted to try the Tall Ship Program this year. “I have to say it has really been a great partnership, was great to work with them and serve these kids from our neighborhood’s working families… and to have the funding to make it happen!” Statucki noted that once the Franklin School, and others they serve in the community, have been exposed to SBMM’s ocean related immersion programs, on and off the water, it changes their overall perspective permanently. 

Aboard the Mystic Whaler, the Franklin School’s 5^th graders were transported into the world of a sailor during the 1800s by way of “Echoes of a Merchant Mariner,” an innovative educational program based on Richard Henry Dana Jr.’s chronicle, Two Years Before the Mast. Dana’smemoir, published in 1840, was an authentic portrayal of the seafaring lives of ordinary merchant seamen under often extreme conditions, the inspiration for the adventurous, hands-on “Echoes” program. This exciting educational adventure exposes kids to seamanship, history, and literature, andserves to deepen and strengthen understanding of newly learned concepts. Sailing and navigating a traditionally rigged tall ship teaches nautical skills that involve science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM), plus the social and emotional challenges of handling a 110-foot vessel in real time. 

Stepping out of their comfort zones, these 5^th grade mariners learned effective communication, teamwork, courage, and self-discipline without the benefit of modern technology. “Being out in the open sea – most had never been on a boat – was super exciting!” shared teacher James Coronado (aka: Mister C). “They had to hold on with the current, go with the wind, something the kids learned on board as a new experience… not only for them but for us too.” Especially surprising to Coronado was that his students instantly complied with the mustering and assignments given by First Mate Frank, who informed them that one person who doesn’t do their job could endanger the safety of the entire crew, not to mention the ship itself. The Captain of Mystic Whaler, Christine Healy, reviewed the history of tall ships and explained to the newly minted crew that in the 1800s there were no modern conveniences… like a boat engine! Or a cell phone! Judging by the kids’ responses, fair winds and calm seas sparked imaginations as to sailing life back in the day, so missing an engine and a cell phone went Back to the Future! 

Founded in 2022, Mystic Ocean Adventures, one of the newer philanthropic organizations based in Santa Barbara, is well on its way to fulfilling its educational mission of environmental stewardship, teamwork, self-confidence, nautical skills and the study of marine life, the ocean and its biodiversity. What’s exciting is that Mystic Whaler is a most unique educational platform with a promising future. On or below deck, kids have real life, hands-on adventure, developing skills by the ‘old fashioned’ method innate to all of us as humans – Experience! Mystic Whaler’s traveling classroom allows for a broader range of young people to participate in marine education and experiential learning, not only in Santa Barbara but all along the Southern California coastline. “Mystic Whaler offers young people a unique and inspirational platform that truly provides long lasting personal and academic benefits,” exclaims Captain Christine Healy. “In keeping with our mission we are happy to bring Mystic Whaler here for the SBMM Tall Ship Program and other venues up and down our coast.” And an important mission it is for our present time and for generations to come. 

For more information visit Mystic Ocean Adventures at www.mysticoceanadventures.org