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Alix Tower Thorne
Founder and President
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Alix spent her childhood summers sailing in the Penobscot Bay, admiring the fleet of historic schooners. She earned a 1600 Ton Near Coastal Mate's license sailing on the full-rigged ship HMS Rose, including two Atlantic crossings, and still sails annually on the barque Elissa. The inspiration for many of the Ocean Classroom programs comes from her experiences working and teaching on these vessels. Alix is a trustee of Mystic Seaport and on the board of the American Sail Training Association positions which allow her to support both the preservation of historic and traditional vessels, and encourage the growth of other youth education programs at sea. Alix lives in Maine.
CAPTAINS
Captain Christopher Flansburg
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Christopher began his sailing career in Israel after a tour of duty with the U.S. Army. In 1997, he joined Ocean Classroom after working on yachts and other sail training vessels in the Mediterranean. Christopher became a full time captain with Ocean Classroom in 2003, and typically sails six months out of the year, working on crew hiring the remaining months. When on land he spends time at his blacksmith's forge and working on his new home.
Captain Caroline Smith
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Caroline sailed on her first tall ship, Alexandria, while in college at William and Mary and since graduating has spent sea time aboard Tole Mour, Pride of Baltimore II, Victory Chimes, Black Pearl and Corwith Cramer. Caroline became a full time captain with Ocean Classroom in 2005 after spending two years building the schooner Virginia. Caroline grew up in a fishing village on the Chesapeake Bay and when not sailing lives in Virignia.
Captain JB Smith
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For J.B., the call of the sea started with family sailing and in time led to US Navy destroyers, research vessels, a Spanish fishing trawler, sailing yachts and a cruise ship. In the mid-seventies he joined the brig Unicorn to establish a sail training program and has since sailed exclusively in traditional vessels. Throughout his career, his leadership has advanced the goals and set the standard for education under sail. J.B. lives in Maine with his family.
Captain John Tohanczyn
Marine Superintendent
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John's career at sea began as a cadet aboard the barkentine Gazela Premiero in 1976. Working his way up to mate and master, following the time-honored traditions of the sea, he has sailed the world's oceans and worked with trainees of all ages. He is distinguished not only as a seaman and ship captain, but also as a master shipwright. John lives in Maine with his family.
OFFICE STAFF
Susan Hodder
Managing Director
Liz Lee and her husband, Chris, recently moved from South Carolina to Westport Island, Maine, with the hope of spending summers sailing the coast of Maine. She and her husband are originally from Connecticut but have strong ties to Maine that go back more than 30 years, when they discovered their first sailboat languishing in a front yard somewhere in Newcastle. Being young and foolish, they begged and borrowed the money to truck Colleen, a Northeast Harbor A class built in 1911, down to Connecticut. They rebuilt her and sailed her for many years out of Mystic, CT. Now that they are older, they have chosen to relocate to Maine, in part to provide a suitable home for their current sailboat. They bought a fixer-upper and devoted the past year to making it livable. Liz now looks forward to spending weekends exploring the coast and enjoying life "as it should be".
Alyson Graham
Director of secondary programs
Brynne Kristan
Office Administration
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