Mill Valley Man Receives Lifetime Achievement Award for Tall Ship Contributions

Matt Olson, founder of Call of the Sea, honored for building the iconic Matthew Turner brigantine.

Mar. 21, 2026 at 10:49pm

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Matt Olson, a Mill Valley resident and founder of the maritime education non-profit Call of the Sea, was recently awarded the 2026 Lifetime Achievement award from Tall Ships America. Olson, who turns 85 this year, was recognized for his lifelong dedication to sailing and his crowning achievement - the construction of the 132-foot wooden brigantine Matthew Turner, which has become an iconic part of the San Francisco Bay landscape since its launch in 2017.

Why it matters

Olson's work with Call of the Sea and the Matthew Turner has played a key role in the renaissance of Sausalito's historic maritime waterfront, providing educational sailing experiences for youth and adults alike. His commitment to preserving the legacy of tall ships and sharing that passion with the community has left a lasting impact.

The details

Olson first became interested in sailing as a child, when he started collecting cards featuring various sailing ships. This early fascination eventually led him to build his own 40-foot catamaran at age 20, and later the brigantine Stone Witch, which he sailed around the Pacific and Central America. In 1985, Olson founded the non-profit Call of the Sea, with the goal of building a tall ship to serve as a platform for maritime education. After years of planning and over 200,000 hours of volunteer labor, the Matthew Turner was completed in 2017 at a cost of over $6 million.

  • Olson founded Call of the Sea in 1985.
  • Construction on the Matthew Turner began in 2012.
  • The Matthew Turner was launched in the spring of 2017.
  • Olson received the Lifetime Achievement award from Tall Ships America in 2026.
  • Olson will turn 85 years old in April 2026.

The players

Matt Olson

The 84-year-old founder of Call of the Sea, a maritime education non-profit based in Sausalito, California. Olson was the driving force behind the construction of the 132-foot wooden brigantine Matthew Turner, which has become an iconic part of the San Francisco Bay.

Call of the Sea

A maritime education non-profit organization founded by Matt Olson in 1985, with the goal of building a tall ship to serve as a platform for educational sailing experiences.

Matthew Turner

A 132-foot wooden brigantine that was constructed over the course of more than 200,000 hours of volunteer labor and $6 million in funding. The ship, named after the 19th century shipbuilder Matthew Turner, has become an iconic part of the San Francisco Bay since its launch in 2017.

Tall Ships America

A non-profit organization that promotes sail training and tall ship events, and awarded Matt Olson the 2026 Lifetime Achievement award.

Sylvia Stompe

A San Geronimo Valley resident who joined Olson's team full-time as his assistant in late 2016, helping to make the construction of the Matthew Turner a reality.

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What they’re saying

“The highlight of my life has been building the Matthew Turner and having her sail with youth and adults so that they can experience what it's like to be out there on a classic Tall ship on the water – many of our guests never had any idea to go out on the water or know what they could learn and experience.”

— Matt Olson, Founder, Call of the Sea

“I remember thinking, 'What, raise $5 million to build a 132' wooden brigantine? No way you can make that happen!' Next thing I knew it was 2012, and he was indeed making it happen; the plans for building Matthew Turner were in the works, with a new non-profit, Educational Tall Ship, that Alan formed to focus on the build.”

— Sylvia Stompe, Assistant to Matt Olson

“We've been friends for nearly 50 years, by far the longest and most rewarding friendship of my life. I was dedicated in my involvement in the building of the Matthew Turner, and Alan and I along with several others meet once a week to discuss Buddhist teachings which we have been doing so for many years. In reflecting upon those amazing days on the Stone Witch, I am most grateful for Alan's invitation; he welcomed me aboard his ship and into his world. To watch him skillfully navigate whatever came our way with his unique combination of wisdom, courage and curiosity has been a tremendous gift.”

— Dan Shugrue, Longtime Friend of Matt Olson

What’s next

Olson continues to work with Call of the Sea six days a week, currently making new cabin sole hatch boards for the schooner Seaward. The public is welcome to visit him and learn more about his lifelong passion for sailing and maritime education.

The takeaway

Matt Olson's unwavering dedication to preserving the legacy of tall ships and sharing that passion with the community through Call of the Sea and the iconic Matthew Turner brigantine has left an indelible mark on the San Francisco Bay Area. His Lifetime Achievement award is a well-deserved recognition of a lifetime spent inspiring others to experience the wonder of the open water.