Call of the Sea Celebrates 40 Years at Annual Gala

Sausalito nonprofit Call of the Sea celebrated 40 years of education under sail at their annual gala on Friday, October 25, at the Corinthian Yacht Club. A sold-out crowd of longtime and new supporters gave a standing ovation for founder Alan Olson, who recounted the history of Call of the Sea (COTS) from his first brigantine, Stone Witch, through the building of the tall ship Matthew Turner.

MC and auctioneer Vern Glenn energized the room. A high point was his interview with Isha Kambi and Genie Jenkins, two 9-year-old campers in the 2024 summer sailing program. With support from lead camp counselor Jo Lang, they bravely spoke about their experiences sailing with Call of the Sea, in front of over 180 guests!

Marin County Supervisor Stephanie Moulton-Peters presented a proclamation naming Matthew Turner as the official tall ship of Marin County. Keynote speaker Greg Dalton of Climate One shared his experiences visiting Antarctica with students. Local high school student and avid racing sailor Omar Alami attended and was introduced as the next Steven Spielberg when his video was presented. (See Omar’s video below.)

The occasion also marked the introduction of Call of the Sea’s new executive director, Carla Thorson, an accomplished executive in the Bay Area and global nonprofit community, who is looking ahead to the organization’s next 40 years, focusing on sustainability, educational impact, and reach.

The event raised nearly $290,000 to support Call of the Sea’s scholarship programs and two educational ships, the 132-ft brigantine Matthew Turner and 82-ft schooner Seaward. That sets the nonprofit more than halfway toward its year-end fundraising goal of $500,000.

Call of the Sea provides field trips for Bay Area schools, focusing on STEM subjects: marine science, history, navigation and seamanship, and engineering. During the summer months, the organization provides day camps, workshops and overnight programs. While the majority of programs are for youth ages 8-17, there are opportunities for all ages to learn how to sail aboard a tall ship.

Learn more about the nonprofit Call of the Sea and its sailing education programs here.