Western Flyer Foundation

In 1940, writer John Steinbeck and marine biologist Edward F. Ricketts chartered the sardine fishing boat the Western Flyer for a six-week trip to Mexico's Gulf of California, resulting in the co-authored text Sea of Cortez (1941) and, ten years later, the narrative portion of the work, Steinbeck's The Log from the Sea of Cortez (1951). Their story of intertidal collecting, philosophical rumination, and travel made the Western Flyer an icon, a symbol of a creative and enduring bond between writer and scientist.

After the expedition, the Western Flyer spent years as a fishing vessel, changed names and owners, sank, and was almost beyond repair when marine geologist John Gregg purchased it in 2015. Inspired by the legacy of Steinbeck and Ricketts, he launched the Western Flyer Foundation (WFF) to restore the iconic boat and return it to service as a platform for research and education.

The Western Flyer Foundation is a 501(c)(3) with the mission “To stir curiosity through marine research, education, and a blend of science and art inspired by John Steinbeck, Ed Ricketts, and their journey on the Western Flyer.” The restored Western Flyer is outfitted for oceanographic research and serves as the platform for marine science education programs.