Los Angeles Maritime Institute uses sail training to provide at-risk youth with real-life challenges that develop knowledge, skills and attitudes needed to live healthy, productive lives.

Founded in 1993, the TopSail Youth Program is an education and adventure experience aboard a tall ship consisting of day sails, voyages, or both. Skills gained include team building, problem solving, decision-making, planning, self-reliance and leadership.

A full program consists of a series of day sails scheduled over a period of several months. Each day?s activities build on the skills and knowledge gained during the preceding sailing days. Participants then utilize their new-found sense of empowerment and teamwork on the multi-day voyage where they sleep aboard and sail the vessel, prepare meals, determine each day?s activities and much more.

This award-winning Program is more than "just a boat ride" It brings education and adventure together aboard classically-rigged tall ships where youth participants literally "learn the ropes" They become familiar with their own abilities and the teamwork and leadership qualities needed to operate and navigate a large sailing vessel. Regardless of individual athletic ability or experience, the shipboard environment is challenging, yet nurturing, encouraging exploration and self-reliance.

Through the Program, youth are encouraged to explore and gain an understanding of the ocean, marine environments and the inner-workings of world trade in the Port of Los Angeles. This experience often leads to marine science fields of study and maritime career choices.

During their time aboard the vessels, youth participants develop leadership and team-building skills which include personal values such as respect, patience, self-discipline, integrity and tenacity. The Program ultimately enriches conventional school curricula by bringing elements of biology, mathematics, physics, geography, history, literature and the environment to life in a real-world classroom. It is notably effective with youth who are not coping well with the demands of society and are at risk of dropping out of school and giving up on themselves.

In addition to a reduced overall drop-out rate, TopSail Youth Program participants have historically exhibited the following individual positive outcomes when compared with their non-sailing peers from the same school or geographic area:
1. Better school attendance
2. New or increased involvement in extracurricular activities
3. Improved classroom participation
4. Enhanced self-confidence and self-worth.

Launched in 2002, the twin brigantines Irving Johnson and Exy Johnson were designated the official tall ships and maritime ambassadors of the City of Los Angeles. Measuring 90 feet, these identical, wooden tall ships were named after Captain Irving and Exy Johnson, sail training pioneers and seven-time circumnavigators with youth crew.