Canvasback Missions, Inc.
United States
/ California
| Health/Medical
More information
In the mid 1970's, mission founders Jamie and Jacque Spence gave up professional careers and sailed the Pacific for seven years. Looking to the islands as their personal playground, instead they discovered a great deal of misery and suffering. Returning to the United States, in 1981, Jamie and Jacque began construction of the 71-foot, aluminum-hulled Canvasback, one of the world's largest sailing catamarans. With help from businesses who donated supplies and equipment, plus more than 200 skilled volunteers, the vessel was launched on June 16, 1986. The Canvasback catamaran was uniquely designed to deliver free medical, dental and eye care to remote islands accessible only by sea. Canvasback Missions worked diligently for five years in the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) to make their outer island dispensary system self-sufficient. She was staffed by volunteer physicians, dentists and seamen who brought healing and hope to the people of Micronesia.
