Speaker: Captain Alicia Stratton

March 13th, 2025

Captain Alicia Stratton shared a presentation about the Channel Islands.

With a lifelong passion for the ocean she has an extensive background in marine biology and environmental conservation.
Growing up as an Air Force child, she developed a fascination with the ocean after moving to California and has been exploring the Channel Islands since 1969.
An alumna of UCSB with a degree in Environmental Biology, she has worked on commercial and sportfishing boats, obtained her SCUBA certification, earned her USCG Masters license, and volunteered on various projects on San Nicolas and San Miguel Islands. Her career includes positions with Island Packers, The Nature Conservancy, NOAA Marine Sanctuary as well as a role with the County APCD focusing on their marine engine exchange program and the Blue Skies, Blue Whales program that reduces ship speed in the Santa Barbara Channel.
She works for Road Scholar, formerly Elder Hostel, developing educational programs, conducting lectures and leading groups on the Channel Islands and teaching senior citizens snorkeling.

She and her husband Hall built their 42-ft. sailing catamaran Akua Kai and keep her in Ventura Harbor, sailing and racing as often as possible.

Speaker: MYSTIC WHALER Captain Christine Healy

February 12, 2025

Our Guest Speaker was Captain Christine Healy of Channel Islands Harbor's resident Tall Ship MYSTIC WHALER. Her presentation was entitled "MYSTIC WHALER Onboard Education."

Captain Healy is originally from the east coast where she began her professional sailing career at the age of 19. With a background in traditional sailing vessels, specifically square topsail schooners and Baltimore clippers. In 2008, Healy relocated to California to fulfill a lifelong dream of sailing to Hawaii and participated in the Transpac race from Long Beach to Honolulu in 2009. Since then, Captain Healy has worked in wide variety of assignments in the maritime field - from mega yachts to research vessels to traditional tall ships.

In October of 2021, she was hired as the Captain of MYSTIC WHALER and delivered her from Mystic Seaport, CT, to her new home in Channel Islands Harbor. The ship arrived in January of 2022, and the Central Coast Ocean Adventures Foundation was formed. Captain Healy is not only the Captain but also the Executive Director of Central Coast Ocean Adventures Foundation (CCOAF).

CIWSA Meeting October 10 featured Ole Eichhorn

Speaking on lasers and racing experience

"I’ve been sailing my entire life; my father always had boats, and when I was about six I started sailing Sabots in Channel Islands harbor. After Sabots I graduated to Cyclones and then to Lasers, and I have a Laser still. I bought a C-15 in 1979 and still have her, “It’s the Water”, a grand old lady. Over the years I’ve raced just about every kind of dinghy in Southern California, 470s, 505s, Snipes, C-14s, 420s, FJs, you name it. At all times I’ve had at least a couple of little boats even when I had little else.

Recently I became Laser Fleet Captain at Westlake YC and am working with the club to upgrade our fleet of 9 boats and to start up a junior racing team. I have four daughters, all of whom sailed when they were kids, and a granddaughter, who has been my regular crew at Westlake and recently became my regular skipper!