Blue Frontier Celebrates the Sea and Its New Flagship, ‘Queen’

Last weekend’s wild-ish weather played its part in Blue Frontier’s “Celebration of the Sea” — an event to highlight the work being done by Bay Area organizations and individuals promoting ocean and coastal environmental work. The event was held in Bolinas overlooking the ocean, with the rain clouds parting just in time for a wonderful gathering that included American marine biologist, oceanographer, explorer, author, and lecturer Dr. Sylvia Earle, and folk singer Ramblin’ Jack Elliott, a longtime sailing and tall ship aficionado.

The day was a mix of celebration, information, fun, and fundraising. Woody Skoriak was among the guests and shared, “Who knew kelp tacos could be so good? Yummy …”

Blue Frontier was also celebrating its “new” vessel — a 1931 51-ft William Hand ketch-rigged motorsailer named Queen, which was donated to the organization by Robert Wright of Fort Bragg and Grass Valley, CA. Queen was built in Brooklyn, New York, in 1931, and has made numerous trips up and down the West Coast from Alaska to Mexico. Blue Frontier plans to use it as a research platform for coastal environmental work. The organization’s founder, David Helvarg, an author of numerous books on oceans, ecology, environment and sustainability, will use Queen as a platform from which to conduct research on kelp along the Northern California coast.

Natasha Benjamin, Blue Frontier’s director, expressed her thanks to the many organizers, volunteers, donors and supporters who came together to make the celebration a success. “It was inspiring to hear from [ocean youth activists] Leilei [and] Ava Haro, Marin Supervisor Dennis Rodoni, Blue Frontier’s David Helvarg and of course ‘Her Deepness’ Dr. Sylvia Earle. Thanks also to our volunteer musicians including Ramblin’ Jack Elliot, the artists and the creators who donated to our silent auction and those who bid on their gifts.

“With all the challenges we face on our blue world today, it was reassuring to meet and interact with others who appreciate that we get so much from the ocean [and] we need to give something back.”

You can learn about some of the work Blue Frontier is supporting on its Rising Tide podcast.

And if you’d like to add your support, you can donate here.

By the way, Woody adds, “At 92 years old, Jack can still sing his tunes, one of which included Woody Guthrie’s Talking Sailor.”