Matthew Turner Makes a Splash

Posted on Author Larry Clinton
The Matthew Turner poised to launch on Friday  |  post by Larry Clinton  |  these photos by Jenny Stein
Media covering preparation for launch
Spectators turned out for the Friday "soft launch"
The ship had to navigate a corner and pass through a gate to reach the water
Day well spent, the ship is in position for the Saturday launch
On launch day, spectators crowded the shore as the ship slipped into the water
The charter schooner Freda B was one of many vessels cheering on the Matthew Turner  |  photo by Larry Clinton
Bunting gives the Matthew Turner a festive air  |  these photos by Lynn Lohr
The Matthew Turner being helped into its new mooring
Kayakers attended the launching
The Waterfront Pickers kept the mood festive at the Bay Model  |  remaining photos by Larry Clinton
The Waterfront Pickers brought the Bay Model crowd to their feet
Adults lined up for the bar at the Bay Model…
… while kids favored the dessert table

King Neptune was smiling down on Sausalito April 1 for the launch of the tall ship Matthew Turner in perfect sunny weather. After years of planning and thousands of volunteer hours, this labor of love reached a major milestone when the 100-foot hull got her first taste of salt water.

The ship, modeled after the famous brigantine Galilee, which was designed and built by Matthew Turner 124 years ago, was wheeled out of her tent on Friday, and positioned on the Army Corps of Engineers concrete ramp. On Saturday, after a few false starts, she slipped into the water with bunting snapping in the Bay breeze, to the delight of hundreds of spectators on shore and on the water in every type of watercraft imaginable. Then she was towed to her new home alongside the Corp of Engineers dock. There she’ll stay while her masts, rigging, cabin and deck houses are installed.

The celebration continued with a post-launch party at the Bay Model, featuring food, drinks and music by the Waterfront Pickers.

Don Olson, whose imagination and perseverance brought this dream to life, predicts that by October the Matthew Turner will be fully functional as a school ship, “to provide a learning experience in nature for kids and the public. “ Olson is the Executive Director for Educational Tall Ship, which built the vessel over the past 4 years.

You can view videos of the launch below.  More information on Educational Tall Ship and the Matthew Turner can be found HERE. 

 Addendum—just added—this intimate view of the launch of the Matthew Turner, thanks to Dennis Bayer. The video ends with the great-great granddaughter of Matthew Turner christening the ship by breaking the customary Champagne bottle on the bow. And below that Dennis’ composite image shows the path the Matthew Turner took from the dry dock (L)  to the sea (R), where Dennis has overlaid his photos (including panoramic) on the Matthew Turner situation-room map.