Chula Vista's Beloved Tall Ship Battles Sudden Boot From Harbor

The Bill of Rights, a 137-foot traditional schooner that has long doubled as a floating classroom for South Bay students, is suddenly on the brink of eviction from its slip in Chula Vista. Operators say they received a lease-termination notice ordering the vessel out of the marina by May 5, a move that puts youth sailing camps, Sea Cadet visits and other educational programs on the line. Volunteers and local supporters are scrambling to keep the ship in port, even as programs continue for now.

Leaders with the South Bayfront Sailing Association say the nonprofit was handed the termination notice roughly two weeks ago and told to be out by May 5, a tight deadline that has fired up volunteers and parents alike. "It's more than a classroom," Captain Don Johnson told reporters, describing the ship's role in teaching navigation, seamanship and teamwork. As reported by NBC 7 San Diego, the marina operator issued the notice, and the nonprofit says it still has not been given a clear reason for the termination.

Ship history and education mission

Built in 1971 as a replica of an 1850s-era schooner, the Bill of Rights is a two-masted, gaff-rigged vessel that has served for decades as a sail-training platform. According to Tall Ships America, the schooner originally operated for years without an engine and today is certified to carry passengers for educational voyages. The vessel is owned and operated by the South Bayfront Sailing Association, which runs programs for youth and community groups and describes the ship as a hands-on classroom for students ages 10 to 18, per the group's website.

Private equity takeover changed marina landscape

Safe Harbor Marinas, the company that issued the termination letter, was acquired in a major transaction by an affiliate of Blackstone Infrastructure in a roughly 5.65 billion dollar deal that closed in 2025, a move that industry filings and company releases say is part of a national strategy to consolidate and upgrade marina properties. The change in ownership has sparked questions from small, volunteer-run groups about how national operators will treat community-oriented tenants. Documents filed with the SEC and company announcements detail the sale and signal a wave of portfolio changes at marinas across the country.

Community pushes back

A grassroots petition to keep the Bill of Rights in Safe Harbor has already drawn hundreds of signatures and calls on Safe Harbor leadership and local officials to renew the nonprofit's lease, according to organizers' Change.org page. Local elected officials have voiced support for the schooner, and ship volunteers say they are fielding letters and calls from tall-ship supporters around the country, as reported by NBC 7 San Diego. Organizers are also urging the public to contact Safe Harbor regional staff and city leaders while negotiations continue.

For now the Bill of Rights is still running its scheduled youth sessions and charters while the nonprofit weighs its options, which include trying to negotiate with the marina or searching for an alternate berth. The next few weeks are critical: the organization has until the early May deadline to secure a deal or move the vessel, and community pressure and outreach to Safe Harbor and its new owners will likely determine whether the ship remains in the South Bay. More information about the ship's programs and the petition is available from the South Bayfront Sailing Association's site.