(Oct 28, 2025)
Alice Taylor is the Director of Sales & Marketing for the Los Angeles Maritime Institute (LAMI) in Berth 73 in San Pedro. It was founded in 1992 to help youth to expand their horizons and learn to work together by having experience on sailing ships in the harbor area. It has many corporate and charitable sponsors and is staffed by volunteers for 4 sailing ships.
Youth can learn to become part of the ship’s crew and are trained in the operation of these traditionally-rigged sailing vessels. They are taught to read nautical maps, raise sails, utilize block & tackle, and climb the rigging, adding meaningful practical experiences to their schoolwork. They learn cooperation and teamwork, and expand their horizons beyond their previous neighborhood experiences.
Volunteers work with professional crews to sail ships. LAMI has an in-depth training program for volunteers to learn skills in sailing or in important land-based activities like ship maintenance, festival hosting, merchandise selling, office work and marketing support.
Alice Taylor encouraged us to participate in LAMI: as donors, becoming a member, sponsoring the TopSail Youth Program for a school or youth group, or booking their vessels & crew for a private charter. Volunteers can learn skills such as working with youth, sailing the fleet of tall ships and learning sailing ship maintenance skills. Volunteer Orientation meetings are held monthly for about 2 hours at their office at Berth 73, Suite 2 (above Utro's Café) near Ports o' Call. LAMI also has corporate teambuilding, employee reward incentives, weekend retreats, match racing (they have 2 identical Brigantines), service club sailing, private parties, photo shoots and oceanic research expeditions. For more information, see (http://lamitopsail.org/ or contact info@lamitopsail.org or volunteercoordinator@lamitopsail.org, or call 310-833-6055.