Barquentine "California" Info???

[A. Mason]

I am looking for information on the 62-foot three-masted schooner/barquentine "California." She was designed by naval architect Al Mason in 1928 and wrecked on the rocks outside San Diego harbor in 1981. I am most particularly interested in information on her whereabouts, and owners, from 1941-1949; 1955-1959; and late 1960s to late 1970s. Any information would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

[Thad]

Sorry I can't help you there, but welcome. There is an Ostkust here (I think for sale now) that is just a joy to see sailing.

[Bob Cleek]

Dunno that particular vessel, but you might contact the San Diego Maritime Museum, if you haven't tried them already.

[Bill Bornemann]

Ahoy Al's daughter,
I worked for Windjammer Cruises in Hawaii in the early 70's. Among other things, I remodeled the main salon of the California. Windjammer Cruises changed hands. One of the old owners, Larry Briggs, retained the California as his personal vessel and I sailed with him and 5 others on that square rigger to Marina Del Rey, Ca.

Regards,
Bill Bornemann
billbornemann@hotmail.com

[cjacobson9962]

Yes i do know what happened to her i was 1st mate on salvage vessel Cape Charles that pulled her off rocks off Point Loma. My stepdad Glen Couch owned Cape Charles and Rask Shipyards in coranado, after 5 days and one losing one our smaller towboats. We finally got her off rocks she sank lifted her with airbags, towed her back to Rask. Hauled her out of water my stepdad promised she would be repared but it never happened. I was sad when she was cut up and hauled away. I do have some artifacts a porthole , a pully and srimshaw of her and Point loma. Ive just sent for your dads book. Im looking forward to reading it.

Good luck Chris Jacobson

[StevenBauer]

Ive just sent for your dads book. Im looking forward to reading it.


What book?


Anita hasn't posted here in a while but some here know her and will pass on your message.


Steven

[cjacobson9962]

I messed up Al did not write book, Edward Barr wrote The last command of the Barquentine Calafornia. I belive he was captain when she ran aground.

thanks
chris

[McKee]

I used to run the Californian out of Long Beach, and every time we went to fuel we could see a boat that might fit your description. If memory serves she looked like a 3 masted schooner with some squares on the fore mast, but it's been a long time.

[SchoonerRat]

It's been a long time since Californian has moored in Long Beach. The 3 master might have been the Tole Mour.


http://newimages.yachtworld.com/1/9/0/9/5/1909595_2.jpg?1277327933000


I can't remember exactly when she arrived in Long Beach, it might have been after the Californian's stay here. We have other 3 masters here, but I can't think of another barquentine.

[McKee]

There a huge difference in size, between these two boats. Tole is a big girl, and I know her pretty well. The foggy memories I have arenof something that fit (poorly) in the yacht basin, maybe 65 or so on deck, and super scruffy. I think Californians last season based out of LB was maybe 2002.

[StevenBauer]

There a huge difference in size, between these two boats. Tole is a big girl, and I know her pretty well. The foggy memories I have arenof something that fit (poorly) in the yacht basin, maybe 65 or so on deck, and super scruffy. I think Californians last season based out of LB was maybe 2002.



2002? That's when this thread was started. I thought the California went on the rocks in '81.

Steven

[McKee]

I don't know the name of this little three master that I saw in LB. I admit to skimming the thread... Whoops missed that date sorry for the confusion.

[SchoonerRat]

There a huge difference in size, between these two boats. Tole is a big girl, and I know her pretty well. The foggy memories I have arenof something that fit (poorly) in the yacht basin, maybe 65 or so on deck, and super scruffy. I think Californians last season based out of LB was maybe 2002.
65 is a little small for 3 masts. There's a boat in the Downtown Marina called Rattlesnake. Kind of a pirate ship looking kind of a thing about that size. She'd look scruffy even if she was top shape.

Where did you fuel? Jankovich and Sons?

[McKee]

It's been a bit, but that sounds right. We could just bairly get on the fuel dock in the yacht marina next to Rainbow Harbor. If memory serves we probably took up the whole dock and then some. I think we hung on both ends quite a lot.

[SchoonerRat]

Jankovich is on the main channel. The now closed fuel dock next to Rainbow Harbor is in the Downtown Marina. Rattlesnake still lives on an end tie right next to the closed fuel dock.

HOLY CRAP!!!

That dock is a tight fit for a 50 footer. I suspect it took a calm day and judicial use of the yawl boat to get Californian in there.

Boy do I miss that fuel dock!

[cjacobson9962]

Just read The last command of the Barquentine California. Ive spent alot of time off Point Loma in heavy fog, I think I would have stopped and lowered anchor, The captain had 50 passengers and crew lucky he did not kill anybody, Who cares if the owner would get pissed if she was not docked in time.
He calls my ship a rust bucket but she had enough muscle to pull his mistake off the rocks!
What a shame.

Chris

[Schooner CB Carver]

Hello Chris:
Interesting to read the thread and your post of the Barquentine California. My wife & I were married on that boat in 1973 when she was operating out of Kewalo Basin in Honolulu. You mentioned you had some artifacts from the boat. Boy, I would like to have something to remember her by. Would you be interested in parting with any of it? I found the Forum through a web search on the California and was surprised by the posts.
On another subject; we owned and lived aboard another schooner the CB Carver in Keehi Lagoon in the late 70s. She was 40' on deck and built in Thomaston, Maine I believe in 1960 and very comfortable. The Carver is now somewhere in Oalkand, Ca. and not in good repair. I spoke to the current owner about 1yr ago and he was interested in selling her.
Thanks
Brent Greenwood
Santa Rosa, Ca.
Supermax@sonic.net

[ramillett]

This is the only California I know of (only 2 masted)


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kndmTMv-VLE

[SchoonerRat]

Ram,

That's the Californian, the boat in the thread title is the California.

Californian is still sailing out of the San Diego Maritime Museum. California was lost in the early '80s. If memory serves me she hit the partially submerged jetty at the entrance to San Diego Bay

[Schooner CB Carver]

I have some pics of the 3 master "California" I will try to post after I get them downsized so the server will accept them.
B.Greenwood

[cjacobson9962]

Hello Brent,
Ill think about what you said , It would be hard to part with with some of these artifacts, try to get the book The last command of the barquentine california.It shows my dads boat the cape charles. When i bought it they said it was the last copy, Interesting the cape charles is sunk off point loma almost in the same spot we were at when we pulled her off the rocks. You can see her sunk goggle cape charles san diego. my e- mail is cjacobson9962@yahoo.com.