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Running Free November 2025
From the Bridge
I’ve just returned from the third of our five musters, held in Sausalito, California, and hosted by Call of the Sea—facilitated by one of their outstanding Board Members, Alice Cochran, and one of ours, Bruce Heyman, who also serves as Executive Director of LAMI. It was a fantastic gathering of ship operators, educators, and crew, coming together to discuss the successes and challenges that ships on the West Coast are facing. What stood out to me is that, while they may be separated by thousands of miles, their goals and barriers are the much the same as their East Coast counterparts. Topics ranging from Coast Guard inspections to fundraising to workforce development have come up in every muster I’ve attended so far, and the need for Tall Ships America to be a champion in these areas isn’t lost on me. There’s no magic bullet—but there is strength in working together.
Let me give you an example. At each muster, I’ve spoken about our goal of building a workforce development pathway that provides opportunities aboard tall ships, followed by shore-based skills training, and culminating with an externship aboard a tall ship (or a comparable opportunity). The goal is to have the entire experience supported through scholarship funding, thereby removing one of the biggest barriers to participation.
At the muster, I had the good fortune to hear a presentation from Rear Admiral Eric C. Jones, USCG (Ret.), who recently took over as Superintendent at Cal Poly Maritime Academy. What I found especially exciting about his presentation was how closely their goals align with ours. Where they’re looking for partners, our community is positioned to offer connections. Where we need help with specialized training, they have resources to offer. It’s a natural fit—and in the weeks ahead, I expect we’ll be exploring how we can work together to turn that potential into progress. Finding success in our community will come through collaboration.
You’ll see this same focus on collaboration reflected in our upcoming 53rd Annual Conference, taking place February 8–11 in Chula Vista, California. If you attend, I’m confident you’ll walk away with valuable insights and new connections that can help your organization thrive. Early-bird registration ends Saturday, so if you haven’t signed up yet, now is the time. We also have two musters still to come—Fairhaven, MA, on November 15, and Baltimore, MD, on December 12. I hope to see you at one of them and look forward to more impactful conversations.
Lastly, I would be remiss if I didn’t share that we’ve kicked off our 2025 Annual Appeal. Did you know that Tall Ships Americaawarded $52,292.30 in sail training scholarships and workforce development grants last year? That’s more than we awarded between 2021 and 2024 combined—and it’s thanks to the support of our members and community. We need your help to keep that momentum going. If you can contribute, please do.
Fair winds, Stu
Leaf Peeping and Tall Ships
Join us this Saturday, November 15th, in Fairhaven, MA on the Northeast Maritime Institute campus for our Northeast Community Muster.
This one day event will be a fun and full day of discussion and camaraderie.
We have a group discount if you will be attending with three (3) or more people from your organization. Important to note, this discount does not apply to the Crew Rate and is only valid on the full, three day conference rate. For more information, reach out to Erin directly.
Speakers and sessions are being posted on the Conference Blog.
The Women Offshore MentorSHIP is a global virtual mentoring initiative designed to reduce the gender gap in offshore and maritime industries.
As part of our commitment to serving all corners of the maritime community, the upcoming MentorSHIP cycle will be a dedicated session for Tall Ships Crew. This special gathering will provide space for tall ship mariners to connect, share experiences, and explore mentorship opportunities tailored to their unique career paths and vessel environments.
The program is open to anyone with experience to share, not just women, and we’re also seeking mentees who could benefit from guidance and support. This program is designed to create new connections in our community, and deepen existing ones. We encourage you to apply to be a mentor or mentee. This is a free opportunity open to everyone.
November Speaker Series: Captain Christopher Nolan
It's our last Speaker Series of the season and we are thrilled to welcome Captain Chris Nolan. Join us at 2pm on Tuesday, November 19th as he shares his various experiences working on the water.
Practical Navigator Training is run by Capt. Christopher D. Nolan, a former USCG cutterman and current USCG reservist. Chris holds a 1600-ton USCG merchant mariner license upon ocean routes and a 3000-ton STCW license, having served in command of both military and civilian ships. Chris also sits on the board of Tall Ships America.
Twelve Questions with Krijn Van Den Brink, FD Yachts
From being a young sailor in the Netherlands to the founding an international yacht brand, Krijn Van Den Brink has charted an inspiring course. Recently, FD Yachts became the first member of Tall Ships America’s new Leadership Circle, reflecting Krijn’s commitment to connecting sailors across disciplines — from dinghy racing to tall ship training. We caught up with him to talk about his background, his boats, and his bold vision for the future of sailing in a new segment we call Twelve Questions.
How did you get into boatbuilding?
I was always fascinated by boats. While other kids were drawing cars, I was sketching sailboats and building wooden models. By age 12 or 13, I was already building 15-foot wooden dinghies, and by 18, I had completed 22- and 37-foot keelboats. Later, I joined my parents in professional boatbuilding. Sailing is in my DNA — it’s my lifelong passion!
What defines the “FD Yachts feel”?
Our philosophy is simple: Passion for Performance — Sail to the Future! We want sailors to feel a real connection with the boat, as if they’re in conversation with it while sailing.
Tall ships and community sailing programs are very different. How do your boats fit into that world?
Tall ships offer a unique, immersive sailing experience. Our FD Future range provides a perfect training platform for new sailors to build skills and confidence. With a reefable main, jib, and spinnaker; open transom; and maintenance-free hull, sailors can progress naturally from the FD Future to the FD Future 6.8 and FD Future X. We hope to see more people discovering the joy of sailing through these pathways.
Are you a current Crew Member going for your license? MMSEAS can help! The MM-SEAS Pro software provides mariners with an organized and efficient platform for managing all aspects of their license application and renewal process. From tracking sea service to generating required documentation, MM-SEAS helps eliminate the headaches associated with paper files and confusing regulatory hurdles.
This contribution is aimed at streamlining the often complex process of obtaining and maintaining US Coast Guard licenses, a critical step for anyone pursuing a career on the water.This generous donation from MM-SEAS underscores their commitment to supporting the maritime community and investing in the future of seafaring.
Tall Ships America members receive discounted stress-free applications.
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