Tallships in Sausalito

Alan Olson---Project Director. As Project Director, Alan brings his vision to the organization and 60 years of maritime experience, in construction, engineering, restoration and sailing. At age 22 he built his first boat in Minneapolis, a 40 foot catamaran, sailing her down the Mississippi and to the Caribbean. He next constructed Stone Witch, a 70’ brigantine.  From 1977 on, he sailed Stone Witch over 40,000 miles, operating educational sailing programs for youth and adults along with public charters on SF Bay and on Pacific Ocean expeditions.   Stone Witch was the flag ship for Greenpeace and involved in environmental missions along the California Coast.  In the 1990’s Alan restored a 1929, 54ft wooden staysail schooner to use in youth educational programs with Call of the Sea and on educational expeditions with adults.  In 1992 they set sail on a one year 15,000 mile Pacific Rim Voyage through Hawaii and Pacific Islands entering Shanghai as the first American yacht to visit in fifty years. After three months cruising Japan they set out for Alaska returning along the coast to San Francisco. Alan also spent five years in a leadership and design position at a Buddhists monastery building elaborate temples and sculpting sacred art.