Call of the Sea Celebrates Its 20th Gala Gathering
“What an unforgettable evening at the Call of the Sea Gala!” That’s the report from Call of the Sea’s director of community and business development, Sylvia Stompe, about the organization’s 20th Gala event, which also celebrated the schooner Seaward’s 20th anniversary on the Bay.
This year Call of the Sea staff, crew, friends and supporters gathered at the St. Francis Yacht Club to celebrate and support maritime education. The highlight was tall ship Matthew Turner’s first-ever visit to the club. Dressed for the occasion in decorative flags, she towered proudly above Marina Boulevard.
Over 170 guests, including the nonprofit’s amazing crew, volunteers, partners, and longtime supporters, joined for a night of connection, generosity, and breathtaking Bay views.
Longtime and new sponsors including Pasha Hawaii, Woodside Fund for Education, Marin Community Fund, Bay Ship and Yacht, and David J. MacGregor, MD attended the Gala, together with key partners including Marin City Community Development Corporation, Oakland Goes Outdoors, and Sea Trek, acknowledged with thanks and gratitude for their help in enabling hundreds of students to experience and learn from time on the water.
The event was also attended by many whom Sylvia referred to as the “Tall Ship Family” — dedicated volunteers, some who devoted countless hours helping build the Matthew Turner, and others who are a part of the crew, sailing every week and supporting the ship and mission with their knowledge and esprit de corps.
Local sportscaster and media personality Vern Glenn hosted the presentation, “Live Auction and Fund the Future” paddle raise — an in-person auction with proceeds directed to Call of the Sea’s student scholarships and vessel costs. For those who weren’t able to attend Saturday’s gathering, there’s still an opportunity to support Call of the Sea through the online silent auction, with 44 items up for grabs. The fundraiser continues until 5:00 p.m. today (Monday, October 6).
Check out and bid on cool items and experiences here!
“Bid now and help us keep Seaward and Matthew Turner inspiring the next generation through the power of the sea!”
Learn more about Call of the Sea here.
We happened to find an October 1992 article of Alan and Call of the Sea in advance of his Pacific Rim Expedition.
Colombian Tall Ship ARC ‘Gloria’ Due To Arrive Thursday, October 9
The 212-ft Colombian tall ship ARC Gloria will be participating in Fleet Week this year! She will arrive (without any other ships) on October 9 and is expected to pass under the Golden Gate Bridge at 0800 under the command of Captain Luis Lara, and will berth at piers 15–17 between 0830–0900. The crew will put on a show from the rigging, featuring singing and music beginning at 8:30 a.m. as the ship is being pushed in by tugs.
ARC Gloria will leave the dock on October 10 to participate in the parade of sail and will be open for tours through to the13th. She is expected to leave for Vancouver on October 14 at 0900, passing under the Golden Gate Bridge at approximately 0930.
They would love it if you were to sail out to greet her under the bridge, if you can! Get ready and spread the word!
The USCG Eagle visited in May and the Norwegian tall ship Statsraad Lehmkuhl will be visiting in early November.
Haven Boatworks: Full Service Boatyard in Port Townsend
Meeting More of the Ha-Ha Fleet, 2025
Over the past couple of months we’ve been sharing the sailing bios of some of this year’s Baja Ha-Ha fleet. With less than a month to go, we’re adding a few more to the growing list.
Hop Guy, Sausalito/Saratoga — Bacchanal, J/133
Hop, 68, works in IP law. His crew will include his 29-year-old twin sons, Will and Sam Guy; Matt Zarem, 53, a licensed captain and former sailing instructor who has raced J/105s on San Francisco Bay for 25 years and now runs the Spaulding Marine Center; Matt’s son, Mason Zarem, 12, a student of life, dinghy sailor, and all-around water kid; and Matt’s wife, Tiffany Zarem, a marketing professional. Matt and Tiffany have chartered all over the world. There may also be one more crewmember, also named Will.
Hop has been sailing for 54 years, during which time he’s owned five boats between 17 and 43 feet, “plus a dozen small ones.” He’s owned Bacchanal for eight years. She took second in Class A in this year’s St. Francis Big Boat Series — though Hop claims, “It was no thanks to me.”
Hop’s longest sails have been from Monterey to San Francisco and Santa Barbara to the Channel Islands. He dreams of one day sailing a Swan 50 in the Caribbean. Right-handed Hop’s favorite dessert is French apple tart with ice cream. “I’m doing this with my sons,” he adds, “and I’m very excited about it.”
Andrew and Leigh Tosh, Newport Beach — Amanzi, Lagoon 42
Andrew, 58, is in sales, while Leigh, who is from South Africa and has a lovely accent to prove it, is a homemaker. Andrew’s Baptist mother would like him to say that the couple met at a fine-dining establishment, but it was actually a bar. They will have three crew: brother Taylor Tosh, 55, a DJ; Chris Jester, 53; and Dan Warner, 48, a business owner with a background in mountaineering and scuba, happiest with salt in the air and a little risk on the horizon.
Having sold their printing and packaging business, Andrew and Leigh have officially traded paper boxes for compass roses and launched themselves into the cruising life, starting with the Ha-Ha. Why? Because spreadsheets are overrated and the ocean has far fewer staff meetings. It’s also helped that the twin daughters are off the dole, so it’s time to set sail at a slower pace of life. Roughly six knots, give or take a squall.
“Drewsie” and Leigh recently proved their salty chops in the 2024 Newport to Ensenada Race, where they “crushed” their competition, finishing first in class. Rumor has it Andrew screamed, “Woooo!” as they surfed down a swell at a spicy 12.8 knots. It was less of a cruise and more of a champagne spray at the finish line.
Practically born with a tiller in hand, Andrew cut his teeth racing Sabots at Bahia Corinthian YC in Newport, and later helmed Harbor 20s with salt in his veins and competitiveness in his soul. He was essentially Neptune’s intern. He’s also a passionate surfer and fisherman.
Leigh, ever the adventurous co-captain, is diving into sailing with a life jacket full of good humor and Google searches. She’s fully “on board” with Andrew’s dream of sailing around the world — or at least to the Caribbean, her current definition of “the world.”
With enthusiasm, experience, and just the right amount of “winging it,” the Amanzi folks are “ready to ride the trade winds, chase sunsets, and maybe even remember what all those little buttons on the chartplotter do.”
Garry and Cheryl Dobson, Cold Springs (Seven Ha-Ha’s) — Stainsby Girl, Catalina 470
Garry, 74, is a retired real estate developer who did the Ha-Ha in ’94, ’99, ’00, ’06, ’19, ’22 and ’24. Spouse Cheryl joined him for the Ha-Ha’s in ’19, ‘22 and ’24. Their crew will be Jim Painter, 67, a vet of the ’22 and ’24 Ha-Ha’s, who is retired from IT; and Karen Miller, a retired executive assistant who did the ’21, ’22, and ’24 Ha-Ha’s. “It’s great to have Jim and Karen back to ‘get the band back together,'” says Garry, “as they are great sailors, good cooks, and low maintenance”.
“This will be my eighth Ha-Ha,” Dobson says. “I have owned Stainsby Girl since 2005.”
After the Ha-Ha, the Dobsons will be spending time in La Paz and the Sea of Cortez. November is typically one of the three best months of the year in the Sea — as long as there are no early-season Northers.
Garry’s favorite quote is a classic truth: “There are wood ships, and good ships, and ships that sail the seas. But the best ships are the friendships, and may they always be.”
What Boat Would You Race or Cruise This Year?
Following one of the most beautiful Bay Area fall weekends, we were looking at our “boat show” in print in the pages of Latitude 38, thinking about which boat we might take to Mexico this year. Or perhaps we’d race her in the Midwinters. The brokerage ads and Classified pages are constantly being updated with boats suitable for either activity.
First to catch our eye was the 1985 Halberg-Rassy 352 Dovka ad, which says, “Dovka is no ordinary Hallberg-Rassy. Launched in 1985, she has been privately owned and meticulously cared-for by one family since 1990.” It turns out this one is not right for taking to Mexico this year because she’s already in French Polynesia. However, that’s not a bad place to start a cruising adventure. Dovka is priced at $114,000. You can learn more here.
An excellent boat we saw for Midwinters was an Olson 25. They’re a great local class of boats, and one of the fun boats to come out of Santa Cruz. This 1985 model pictured below is priced at $12,500. Plus, there’s a 1984 version in the Classifieds for $11,500. Take your pick.
If we wanted find an inexpensive boat to take to Mexico, we might see if one of the eight boats listed in the 32–35-ft range priced under $20,000 is suitable. One is an Allied Luders 33. That’s a sistership to the boat Robin Lee Graham sailed most of the way around the world, so surely, if it’s in good condition, it could handle a trip to Mexico. Robin started his trip around the world in a 24-footer; the Luders was a huge upgrade for him. It could be for you, too. It’s available for $15,000.
If you’re thinking of something a little more upscale, you could look at the 2008 Island Packet 37 in the Yachtfinders/Windseakers ad. And there’s a Passport 40 in Richard Boland’s ad, for $89,000. These boats have taken countless people to Mexico over the years.
There are many more beautiful new and used boats in the pages of Latitude 38. Some are projects and some are brand new; there’s something to suit almost anyone’s interests and budget.
If you’ve been flipping through the Latitude 38 classified ads instead of sailing on this beautiful weekend, let us know what boat you might take to Mexico this winter or use for Midwinter racing this year.
… And then this dinghy shouted at us, “Hey, what about me?” OK, here it is:
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