DANA POINT : It’s Anchors Aweigh for Nautical Society Seeking New Port

After 14 years in Dana Point, the Nautical Heritage Society will be leaving town and heading to Long Beach.

Relocation of the nonprofit organization has been in the works for nearly two years, said Steve Christman, founder and president.

The organization’s tall sail ship, the Californian, already has been moved to Long Beach with financial help from that city, which provided a dock, Christman said.

The main operations, including a museum, will be permanently moved to Long Beach by the end of next year.

Christman cited the lack of a permanent dock at Dana Point Harbor as the main reason for the organization leaving.

He said that for 14 years, the organization has been trying to get a dock for the Californian, its replica of a 19th century schooner, which operates on-board educational programs for schoolchildren.

“We’ve had a lot of good supporters and we’ve enjoyed our time here in Dana Point,” Christman said. “But if you don’t have a place to park, you can’t really operate very well. It’s just time to move on.”

Since planning its move, the program has received $450,000 in grants from the city of Long Beach, as well as about $200,000 in grants from such corporations as McDonnell Douglas and Toyota, Christman said.

The organization, which teaches children about nautical history and the coastal environment, now is actively involved in Long Beach’s ambitious pier expansion project, which includes a $114-million aquarium, Christman said.