Pacific Heritage Tour is back and BOOKING NOW! Multi-day sailings August 2023
Adventure AWAITS. SEAFARERS Wanted.
Adventure Sailing legs on the Pacific Heritage Tour 2023 are for people who love history and sailing. Very few people have sailed on galleons of the sixteenth century and on our San Salvador sailing legs when public will get a chance to see California through the eyes of explorers.
New entertaining and educational programs on Channel Islands archeology and natural resources, Spanish seafaring history, Cabrillo’s journey, California’s origin story, and first peoples encounters with the unknown will be led by a group of world-renowned historians and educators.
Join us as we set sail for these unique tall ship experiences. For the novice or the experienced sailor, each leg allows passengers the opportunity to join the crew with sail training lessons and shipboard activities including hands-on demonstrations and practical experience of traditional and celestial navigation, cartography, and sail handling, including knots.
San Salvador Santa Barbara Exhibit and Pacific Heritage Tour May 2017
05-15-2017 – The beginning, preparation and casting off. San Diego to Malibu to Santa Barbara.
Ship preparation, final adjustments, crew meeting before departure at 6pm on a chilly stormy Monday Evening.
05-16-2017 – A little sail-by at Malibu for a film shoot.
At dawn we were just past Avalon with a destination of Malibu before continuing our journey to Santa Barbara. We had a pretty rough night to start, what I would call an E-ticket ride! We were greeted to a beautiful start of the day, and the transit to Malibu was uneventful. Once done at Malibu we had a glorious evening transit with Santa Barbara being our destination the next morning.
05-17-2017 – Arrival at Santa Barbara.
We arrived at the Santa Barbara channel entrance at 0600. Once the small boat was deployed we sent a line handler to the docks. Afterwards the small boat shadowed the San Salvador as she came into the harbor. It was a tight squeeze at the dock and with the help of the small boat doing a little pushing we were able to dock the San Salvador. After all lines were secured, we gathered for our first leg group crew picture. Afterwards the Santa Barbara Maritime Museum treated us to a yummy lunch. Once done it was time to set-up the exhibit for the public tours that will start on Thursday the 18th.
05-18-2017 – Distance Learning Programs aboard the San Salvador.
One of the marvelous things about technology is we can share the San Salvador with classrooms remotely. For the next two days before we opened to the public we participated with classrooms interactively. They see and learn via interactive live camera!
05-18 to 21-2017 – Exhibit Days with San Salvador.
It has been a slamming good time here in Santa Barbara. People have been loving seeing our ship, we are in a beautiful setting, and everyone has been so friendly. Hard to believe we are only open to the public for one more day, this Monday May 22. But then the sailing journey will begin. Thursday will be a public 4 hour day sail, which sold out Thursday by 11am! After our day sail our guests will be arriving for the 7 day 6 night sailing adventure from Santa Barbara to San Diego. Some of our overnight stays will be San Miguel, Santa Cruz, Santa Rosa, Two Harbors Catalina, and Avalon before heading back to San Diego.
05-22-2017 – Last Exhibit Day plus School Group Visits.
Monday was our last open to public exhibit day, plus visiting school groups. Sharing the origin story of California to the wonderment and awe of all who visit the San Salvador.
05-23-2017 – Santa Barbara Public Day Sail aboard San Salvador.
Tuesday we started the morning moving the San Salvador to the fuel dock, plus some more provisioning in preparation of our journey. In the afternoon we had a public 4 hour day sail, leaving at noon and returning at 4pm. Had some nice winds and a good time was had by all.
05-24-2017 – The sailing adventure begins, off we go to Cuyler Harbor on San Miguel Island.
PHT 2017 Cuyler Harbor on San Miguel Island
Tuesday late afternoon after our public daysail we started passenger load-in. After dessert and orientation it was lights out till. At 0730 we shoved off from Santa Barbara with our final destination for the day, Cuyler Harbor on San Miguel Island. We wasted no time in putting our guests to work! Manning the Whipstaff, hauling lines, and station watch.
In the morning we loaded up the small boat and did a beach landings to explore a grave-site. We be greeted by a Park Ranger and hundreds of seals on the beach. Our resident archaeologist Dr Jim Cassidy, and the Park Ranger led our group to one of the claimed sites of Cabrillo’s burial site.
05-25-2017 – Bechers Bay Santa Rosa Island.
Our anchor stop after a full day at San Miguel Island. Next stop, Pained Caves on Santa Cruz Island.
05-26-2017 – Painted Cave Santa Cruz Island.
After pulling up anchor we set off to Santa Cruz Island with our first stop Painted Cave.
05-26-2017 – Exploring Anacapa Island.
Once we explored Painted Cave from the small boat we set off to Anacapa Island Channel Islands National Park. Afterwards knot classes during the transit before our nights destination of Smugglers Cove on Santa Cruz Island.
05-27-2017 – Depart Smugglers Cove – destination Cat Harbor, Catalina.
Today was a magnificent day, leaving Santa Cruz Island behind we had about 60 miles to Catalina. Winds were plentiful, and the seas favorable, it was just a perfect day of sailing. Passing Santa Barbara Island we were came across pods of seals, dolphins, and whales! It was a an amazing sight.
05-28-2017 – Explore Little Harbor, Catalina.
After breakfast it was time to explore Little Harbor. Using the small boat for the beach landings, our group gathered for a hike and to explore some ruins. After the hike and lunch we went ashore at Two Harbors for a little fun and dance before our departure. Fired the Verso to signal our departure for a night sail back to San Diego.
05-29-2017 – The final leg back to San Diego.
Hard to believe the journey is over. We arrived back at the Maritime Museum about 12:30pm. For our guests it was 7 days and 6 nights, but I was on the ship from San Diego back to San Diego for 15 days, and it went by in a flash. Thinking about the sights I’ve seen and the guests I’ve met, my only question is, “when are we doing this again?”
May 2017 Guests and Crew, back in San Diego.