Summer 2024

The Western Flyer, made famous by the Baja adventures of John Steinbeck and Ed Ricketts, now serves as a research and teaching vessel in Moss Landing. I t’s back. After rising Phoenix-like from the muddy bottom of Swinomish Channel in Anacortes, Washington, the Western Flyer has returned to Monterey Bay waters. Made famous by John Steinbeck and his buddy Ed Ricketts through their voyage to Baja California that resulted in the book “The Log from the Sea of 'ortez,” the commercial fishing boat was rescued by businessman John Gregg and completely rebuilt. Today, the Western Flyer bobs happily at its mooring in Moss 0anding where the final touches, such as installing scientific instru - ments, are being applied for the vessel’s new life as a research and teaching tool. “We obtained a California Coastal Conservancy grant to help finish building a science lab in the former fish hold,” says )\ecutive (irector of the Flyer Foundation, Sherry Flumerfelt. “Right now, we’re focused on docked pro- grams for middle- and high-school students. Over 300 have participated since January.” At-sea programs will focus primarily on col- lege and grad students. The Foundation produced a short video narrated by actor Nick Offerman that details the boat’s journey. The Flyer will be returning to the Sea of Cortez in spring 2025 for a fund- raising cruise. For more information, visit www.westernflyer.org. Steinbeck’s Western Flyer Returns to Monterey Bay B = M I ',% ) 0 ',%T * I ) 0( SHORT CUTS GIVING BACK 100 C A R M E L M A G A Z I N E • S U M M E R 2 0 2 4 Photo: Kristen Burroughs