The steel-hulled, aluminum-masted vessel measures a sparred length of 76 feet, deck length of 64 feet, beam 15 ft 4 inches, draft 6 feet, main mast height 62 feet, sail area about 2,400 sq ft.
Built with attention to Intracoastal Waterway clearance (bridge height and water depth) it was designed to operate both inland and offshore. Thus the Freedom was engineered for modern charter use while retaining historic lines and rigging forms.
The vessel’s design made it possible for it to traverse Florida’s waterways while giving riders a sense of authenticity.
The Arrival in St. Augustine and Early Years
After construction and initial service elsewhere, the Schooner Freedom arrived in St. Augustine in 2001 when owners Captain John Zaruba and his wife Admiral Sarah purchased the vessel.
The marriage of a modern vessel with America’s oldest continuously occupied European-founded city created the context for the schooner’s identity.
The downtown city marina at 111 Avenida Menendez became its home dock.
Early itineraries included day sails, sunset sails, moonlight sails, and special event charters. From the beginning, the Freedom blended sailing tradition with tourism sensibility: guests could hoist the sails, take the helm under guidance, and learn about St. Augustine’s maritime past while enjoying leisure sailing. shutdown123