MEET OUR CREW
Click on the names to find out more about Curlew's crew members.
Robert A. Harrison, Jr., President
Ed Benz
Roger Hudson
Gary Jackson
John Keith
John Voris
Paul Stansel
Terry Dahm
Don Balser
Dr. Edward A. Taub, M.D.
Dr. Wilbur I. Smith, Rel. D. MFT
Robert A. Harrison, Jr., President
First let me say thanks for visiting my website. Owning and operating Curlew has proven to be the highlight of some forty years of boating. A traditional plank on frame racing schooner she is like no other sailboat I have ever experienced. With her graceful Alden lines she is a beauty to behold from a distance, but even that pales to the experience of feeling her cut through the waves as she responds to the gentle winds off Dana Point. Then there is something about the wood / water / wind connection that provides a grounding not unlike one feels in the mountains or desert, a connectedness, or oneness, with nature. So it is that I invite you to journey with me and explore all that a day on the ocean can provide.
Ed Benz
Ed is a retired general contractor who likes to fill his days with sailing. Introduced to sailing in Newport Harbor 1946, Ed has continued to race and day sail in Southern California and Mexican waters whenever possible. Most notable voyage prior to joining the crew of Curlew was sailing the entire distance from Panama to Newport Beach, that's about 2,900 miles as the crow flies.
Roger Hudson
A true veteran of the sea, Roger has been sailing the waters of Southern California for over thirty years. A Journeyman painter by trade, Roger first started to apply his skills working on the Schooner Kelpie. These days Rogers takes preide keeping Curlew in Bristol condition, along with many others in the Dana Point Harbor, while continuing to crew on her and other boats in the harbor including his own.
Gary Jackson
Gary is a licensed Captain himself who also does a lot of paid boat deliveries. When not otherwise occupied, we always enjoy having Gary on board to tend sail and passengers alike.
John Keith
John Keith, a marine biologist has been teaching sailing at Saddleback College for 31 years. During that time he has coached at the Olympic level and served Commissioner of Sailing for US Olympics. Raced on large and small boats and cruised extensively...the picture was of John and his wife Lindsay at an iceberg near Antartica reached by small boat. John answers many of our guests' questions about our oceans and its inhabitants.
John Voris
John is one of our busier crew members who is presently a full time Medic with the Orange City Fire Department. He is a licensed Emergency Medical Instructor that keeps our crew tuned and up to date on any and all First Aid procedures. He has several thousand Sea miles with one seventeen day passage to Hawaii from Long Beach and a great story of how he married his wife Konnie aboard his Ericson 30 Sloop in the Sea of Cortez.
Paul joined Curlew Charters during the summer of 2009. He has been sailing in Southern California and Mexico for 13 years. He sailed from Los Angeles to Hawaii in 2007 (Transpac), and is making plans to do this race again in 2011.
I'm an ex Navy tin can sailor from the Vietnam War era. My first ocean sailing experience was a trip to Santa Cruz Island back in 1989. Since then I have done 12 Newport to Ensenada races and numerous other races up and down the coast as well as cruises to all the Channel Islands except San Nicolas. My longest blue water cruise, other than crossing the Pacific three times on a Navy frigate, was a trip from Suva, Fiji to Bay of Islands, New Zealand. Crewing aboard the schooner CURLEW is definitely a high point in my sailing life.
Don Balser
After a thirty year career in the financial services industry, Don is enjoying spending his time feeding his passion for sailing. He honed his sailing skills in the Boston area on a variety of sailboats. A highlight of his east coast sailing was an extended trip up the New England coast to Casco Bay, Maine. In addition to crewing on Curlew, he sails and races his own boat out of Dana Point. He's completed a number of ocean races including the annual Newport to Ensenada International Yacht Race.
Meet Our Professional's
Edward A. Taub, M.D., former Lieutenant Commander in the U.S. Coast Guard and Ship Doctor for Windstar, Holland America and Carnival Cruise Lines, has joined the crew of Curlew as Ships Doctor.
Doctor Taub's success in preventing and treating seasickness, combines with the built-in grace and stability of Curlew, will now assure the comfort and enjoyment of all our passengers.
A noted Orange County physician and author, Dr. Taub has written 7 books on wellness. His last book, "Balance Your Body, Balance Your Life" was made into a PBS Special. He's a regular guest on QVC and has also appeared on the Today Show, Good Morning America and The O'Reilly Factor.
Dr. Taub directs Curlew's "Voyages to Wellness" program based on his published works.
Dr. Wilbur I. Smith, Rel. D. MFT
Dr. Wilbur "Wil" Smith is Curlew's Teambuilding Psychotherapist. He has been in practice for more than 35 years and relies on Cognitive and Support Therapy to assist his patients discover their sense of meaning and purpose in life. He specializes in helping people deal with issues of grief, loss, anxiety, and stress management as it relates to aging, work and career, and personal growth. He helps individuals navigate major crises and life changes through groups, retreats, and team-building seminars at sea on the schooner Curlew.
On June 30, 1969, Wil Smith became a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in the County of Orange (License No. 3035). Dr. Smith received his Doctorate from the Claremont Graduate School of Theology in 1971.
Dr. Smith brings to the Curlew crew an added dimension that rounds out the program of helping Curlew's clients learn how to create and maintain "flow" to their work environment. He does this by teaching individuals how to:
- become more accountable for their own lives
- relate authentically to others
- empower one's awareness
- develop one's sense of humor
- discover ways to heal
- learn communication skills, and
- identify one's strengths
Wil Smith and Bob Harrison work as a team to help groups and individuals achieve their own individual potential. Smith communicates the science behind the challenge or issue and Harrison speaks about it in a practical application. Together they have affected significant change and look forward to partnering for many years to come.