Western Flyer Literary History Heads Back to Sea with Sherry Flumerfelt - WYL 261

In 1940, writer John Steinbeck and marine biologist Ed Ricketts chartered the fishing vessel Western Flyer for a six-week exploration of Mexico's Gulf of California, resulting in the groundbreaking text The Log from the Sea of Cortez (1951). The boat returned to fishing for decades, disappeared, sank, and was in disrepair when marine geologist John Gregg purchased it in 2015. With admiration for the Pulitzer Prize winner and Nobel Laureate who contributed Of Mice and Men, Tortilla Flat, East of Eden, and The Grapes of Wrath to the American literary canon, John founded the nonprofit Western Flyer Foundation (WFF) and embarked on restoring the historic boat and bringing it back into service for research and education. By the summer of 2023, after years of planning and craftsmanship by master shipwrights and the addition of a new hybrid-electric propulsion system, the renovated Western Flyer will once again trawl the waters of Monterey Bay and beyond. Classic Boat magazine, recently acknowledged this tremendous effort by awarding the Foundation a prestigious Classic Boat Award for the “Best Restored Power Vessel”. Sherry will share the story of this iconic boat, its restoration, and the organization's plans for the future. Technical Director - Sean Restivo Production Manager and Camera Operator- John Bechtol Stage Manager - Arjun Sodhani Runner and Production Assistant - Walter Crompton Live stream brought to you by http://bayarealivestreams.com