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| Sailing on American Pride is an experience of bonding with the crew and fellow passengers, while enjoying the splendors of sailing on a classic vessel. Here captain Jeremy Schmich, right, gives a hearty thumbs up with sailor and photographer Bruce Keller on a Long Beach sail. STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER |
THERE ARE MANY pleasures in stepping aboard the American Pride and her "twin brigantines." Chiefly, these three vessels keep the old-time sailing spirit afloat and are educating youth on the importance of our oceans.
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| Adrian Cerna is a devoted student of pirates and shares his knowledge in stories about the colorful sea bandits. |
The ships have the look and feel of that colorful bygone era when clippers and windjammers sailed the sea, vying for dominance in global trade, defending their turf with warfare. They are classic beauties and those who step aboard become part of a legacy of learning and wonder.
One hears the sounds of the sails as they unfurl, and watches enraptured as the shoreline fades. There's an exciting rush followed by a feeling of serenity as these ships cut cleanly through the waters off Long Beach, California. Being on board is a memorable experience for lovers of the sea and sailing.
One hears the sounds of the sails as they unfurl, and watches enraptured as the shoreline fades. There's an exciting rush followed by a feeling of serenity as these ships cut cleanly through the waters off Long Beach, California. Being on board is a memorable experience for lovers of the sea and sailing.
AMERICAN PRIDE, the official tall ship of Long Beach, is a 129' three-masted schooner berthed in the city's picturesque Rainbow Harbor. The vessel serves as a marine education platform for youth, a floating classroom providing education and opportunities.
At the moment she is on hiatus, being refurbished. She'll be back. Meanwhile two other ships continue her mission of education and public participation. Twin brigantines - Irving Johnson and Exy Johnson -- were designed and built in San Pedro as educational sailing vessels. At their launch in 2004, they were named the Official Tall Ships of the City of
Los Angeles, an important collaborator.
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| Lifelong sailor Bruce Keller was invited to the helm where he took the wheel for a few special moments, a thrill for him. |
Shortly before American Pride went in for repair, we were invited aboard with an enthusiastic group of fellow sailors, mainly adults. Young people sail her on special outings sponsored by the non-profit Institute, which owns and operates the vessel.
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| The thrill of sailing shows on the faces of school children, learning the ropes of sailing. --photo courtesy of Children's Maritime Institute |
So while they enjoy a fun outing, it is also a serious learning experience as young sailors study marine biology, environmental science, navigation, teamwork, and, naturally, the art of sailing.
On our shoreline sail, everyone on board was passionate -- from the captain to crew to us lucky passengers. We met a recently engaged couple from Los Angeles, checking the boat out for their wedding reception.
ONE LONG married couple from Long Beach were out for a regular Sunday sail. The wife said, "We come to celebrate being alive on these ships." They held hands, smiled and relaxed, enjoying time together on a lovely afternoon.
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| Twin brigantines, Irving Johnson & Exy Johnson were built in San Pedro as educational sailing vessels. They are official tall ships of Los Angeles. --photo courtesy of Children's Maritime Institute |
Captain Jeremy Schmich observed, "These popular sailing field trips are important. We teach young sailors marine biology, environmental science, navigation, teamwork, and how to sail. So many benefits..."
THERE IS still time to register for or inquire about this summer's activities. On tap are a day camp out of Rainbow Harbor, and both five and 12-day sleepaway camps departing from downtown San Pedro.
Monthly Sunset Sails continue, too, inviting the community to "come aboard our tall ships, sit back and relax or take part in helping the crew set the sails," says Reinhardt.  |
| On a breezy day, deckhands and passengers collaborate on hoisting the sails. It's good to bring layers on any sail. |
Tickets must be purchased in advance for two upcoming sails: Father's Day Sunset Sail on Sunday, June 15, 6-8:30 p.m., ($60 and $30 for children 12 and under) and a special July Fireworks Sail on Saturday, July 5, 7-10 p.m. ($75 and $30.)
Volunteers are welcome and can be trained as deckhands and earn sea time, she explained.
A CAPSULE OF the colorful history of American Pride: She was built as a two-masted "schooner-dragger" -- an eastern rigged trawler known as Virginia -- and spent 40 years as a commercial fishing vessel. She was completely restored in 1986, when she acquired her third mast, renamed Natalie Todd and operated as a charter boat out of Bar Harbor, Maine. In October 1996, the American Heritage Maritime Institute purchased her. She transited the Panama Canal to her new home in California. She operates under Children's Maritime Institute, the Long Beach division of Los Angeles Maritime Institute. The mission: sailing training, maritime education and living history sharing.
UP NEXT: Big Bus beckons. We take Big Bus Tours on our worldwide jaunts. The time honored agency operates out of many major U.S. and other famous cities. We enjoy lively narratives, friendly drivers, easy "hop on and hop off" options, free WiFi and more in both a new city or cities we know and love and are revisiting. Come along to explore in Sydney, Singapore, San Francisco, Tokyo, New York and more, hopping on and off in as we explore, learn and live. Join us weekly for a fresh spin on travel, nature, family, performance and more:
Private charters may also be booked, offering a relaxing venue for team building, Reinhardt says. "We happily book corporate events, family celebrations, photo and video shoots and more."
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| American Pride in her glory at full sail. She can hold 100 passengers and six crew;59 passengers can overnight on her. |
FOR LIFELONG sailor Bruce Keller, an afternoon on American Pride provided "a satisfying and peaceful sailing experience that promotes love of the sea. What a thrill to help set the sails. A top notch time."
Public weekend sailings help fund and promote the youth education arm. The program's focus is to foster a love of sailing and personal confidence building in young sailors. "For me, as a kid, sailing changed my life and gave me confidence both on land and sea," said Keller.
Free deck tours, hands on activities and more shoreline sails are planned. The Long Beach and Los Angeles ports and institutes collaborate on myriad events. Their unique sailing programs are enjoyed by tourists and residents from all over southern California and beyond. The people we met emphasized twin pleasures: relaxation for sailors and the opening of doors for youth. Reinhardt is proud that under-resourced schools and communities in the Los Angeles area benefit from the generosity of donors who support the program.
"Some of these kids have never been on the sea, so it's
"Some of these kids have never been on the sea, so it's
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| Lovely sunset view from American Pride. |
mind opening," said a woman who sponsors her grandkids for summer programs. "It teaches them so much: not just sailing but self reliance, co-operation, learning about the environment and doing their bit to save our precious oceans."
More information on scheduling , tours, rental options, summer camps, and the two upcoming weekend sails June 15 and July 5:
https://lamitopsail.org
www.childrensmaritime.org
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| Bruce Keller and Christene "Cookie" Meyers on a stop with Big Bus Tours in Sydney, Australia, a recent trek for the two. |
www.whereiscookie.com
We love what this inventive program does for kids. Keep up the good work. Thanks for this fine piece.
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