The Santa Barbara Maritime Museum (SBMM) will host Santa Barbara author, designer and sailor Will Sofrin for its November Maritime Distinguished Speaker Series, 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 19 at SBMM, 113 Harbor Way.
Sofrin will present USCGC Eagle: America’s Ambassador, a new look at the history of the Coast Guard’s flagship from her beginnings as the German sail-training vessel Horst Wessel to her transformation into a U.S. Coast Guard training ship, floating classroom, and international ambassador.
Drawing from his firsthand experiences aboard Eagle and research for his new book “USCG Cutter Eagle: The Legacy of the Coast Guard’s Flagship,” Sofrin will explore why a tall ship built nearly a century ago continues to play an important role in preparing future Coast Guard officers, organizers said.
At 295 feet long with more than 23,000 square feet of sail, Eagle provides cadets with an immersive environment where they learn seamanship, navigation, teamwork, discipline, and leadership at sea, according to SBMM.
“Eagle is much more than a historic ship,” said Sofrin. “She is a living laboratory where generations of young Coast Guard officers have learned what it means to lead, work as a team, and meet challenges at sea.”
With some 30,000 blue-water miles of sailing experience, Sofrinh as worked as a licensed captain, professional sailor, and wooden boat shipwright.
He has also sailed aboard Eagle as a captain’s guest during training exercises in the North Atlantic and Pacific.
Tickets are free for Navigators Circle members; $10 SBMM members; $20 general public; $5 for students and educators with valid school ID or email
For reservations, visit sbmm.org, email reservations@sbmm.org, or call 805-456-8750.