California has a long maritime tradition, something we’re extremely proud to be a part of here at San Diego Sailing Tours. People have come to California by water for centuries, looking for the New World, adventure, industry, or simply the golden sunshine. The ocean and the beaches have become our most valuable resources.

Sailing under wind power took off in California in the 17th century, when the Spanish, who ruled Mexico at the time, would send sailing galleons between California and colonies all around the world. When California joined the U.S. in 1850, California was the destination of many travelers from the East Coast of the U.S., after a long journey around South America. The completion of the Panama Canal in 1914 vastly increased the number of ships that crossed from the Atlantic to the Pacific, many bound for California.

In 1915, the Panama-California Exposition took place in San Diego, a growing city in California that had recently constructed its iconic Balboa Park to accommodate the expo. San Diego would become a major West Coast destination for the U.S., and its waters would host many naval, professional, and amateur sailors alike over the years. The Californian, the official tall ship of the State of California, makes its home in San Diego Bay.

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