My love of traditional ships and yachts began as a young boy driving with my dad to one of his bikini factories in Calexico, California on the border with Mexico. We would drive through San Diego and I would always insist on stopping to see the Star of India along the Embarcadero and have clam chowder at Anthony’s Fish Grotto next to the Star of India. In my mid-twenties, I saw a class on traditional seamanship and navigation called Great Traditions of the Sea taught by Captain Ron Remsburg at the Yankee Whaler restaurant in Ports of Call village (great clam chowder). I decided to sign up for the several weeks long course which culminated on a sail to Catalina abord Captain Remsburg's beautiful traditional wooden schooner Atlantas. My memories of visiting the Star of India flooded back to me as we sailed to Catalina and I knew what I wanted to do for the rest of my life – to sail and work aboard traditional yachts and ships. That dream had its gestation aboard Atlantas and became a reality two years later when I signed articles aboard HMAV Bounty. The rest is a long wake of ships and yachts, tropical islands and salt of the earth shipmates. I will always be grateful to captain Ron Remsburg and his mentorship and introduction into the world of traditional sail. |
Anthony's Fish Grotto and Star of India in the 1960s |
1863 barque Star of India |
From USC "Seafaring Traditions": The wooden schooner “Atlantas” was built in Nova Scotia in 1968 by master shipwright David Stevens. Atlantas is a 52-foot replica of many famous racing and fishing schooners of the 19th century. Atlantas sailed to California in 1970 where she became the flagship of the USC Nautical Science Program under the direction and ownership of the Nautical Science Program founder, Captain Ron Remsburg. Atlantas is currently owned and operated by “Seafaring Traditions LLC” for the continued mission of teaching navigation and seamanship to students at USC under the direction of Lars P. Harding |
Atlantas moored at Avalon, Catalina Island |
Spring 2019 A new rig for Schooner Atlantas |
In the Spring of 2019 I was asked by captain Lars Harding to splice up new standing rigging for Atlantas while I was overseeing the rigging restoration of the 1936 topsail schooner Swift of Ipswich. I was honored to be asked and enjoyed giving back to the vessel that launched my career some of the rigging skills I honed ever since first sailing aboard her...so many years ago. I know this new rig will serve her well. |
Newly spliced eye above with old spliced eyes middle and bottom |
Sea trials with new rigging Atlantas |