The Svala Project

Sail. Learn. Discover. Teach it forward.

What Svala makes possible

A collaborative field platform for scientists, educators, and storytellers: water sampling, plankton collection, instruments and data, wildlife observation, Great Lakes field work, educator learning, filming, live connections from the water, and discoveries carried back into classrooms.

A capable field vessel can create an impact far beyond the people physically aboard.

Straight answers

Where the project actually stands

What boat is Svala?

Odyssey Discovery has not yet selected S/V Svala. The organization is currently searching for the sailing vessel that best fits its Great Lakes science, education, conservation, and storytelling mission.

How is S/V Svala being funded — $150,000 or $350,000?

Both, in stages. $150,000 is the Phase One launch capitalization target: designed to support acquiring the right vessel, survey and closing, delivery, immediate safety and readiness work, mission outfitting and initial operating requirements. $350,000 is the long-term fully capitalized target, intentionally larger so Svala launches responsibly — debt-free, with approximately three years of baseline operating runway and protected operating and maintenance reserves — rather than buying a boat and immediately needing more money. Funding builds through milestones ($25,000 Foundation, $75,000 Acquisition Readiness, $150,000 Launch, $250,000 Build the Runway, $350,000 Fully Capitalized). The full $350,000 does not have to be raised before Svala can launch, and no milestone automatically triggers a purchase. It is not a sailboat purchase budget.

How much of the funding goes to the boat?

The working vessel acquisition allocation is $100,000, with a research range of roughly $75,000 to $125,000. That is a planning allocation, not permission to spend $100,000. The rest funds delivery and commissioning, safety and vessel systems, science/education/media outfitting, approximately three years of baseline operations, and protected operating and maintenance reserves. Money saved on the vessel strengthens reserves, safety, systems, mission capability and runway — it does not reduce the long-term goal. The vessel will not necessarily cost exactly $100,000; it depends on the actual vessel selected.

Would you buy a boat as soon as $150,000 (or $350,000) is raised?

No. Reaching any milestone does not automatically trigger a purchase, and an attractive listing does not change the status. Acquisition status stays NOT ACQUISITION READY until sufficient outside cash is secured, a purchase price is established, a professional pre-purchase survey is complete, survey deficiencies and refit are financially evaluated, delivery, insurance, dockage and winter storage are planned and estimated, the three-year financial model is updated, protected reserves remain adequate, no debt or inappropriate founder contribution is required, Odyssey operating cash is protected, and Kirsten gives final approval.

Are you restoring an old sailboat?

No. Odyssey Discovery is not buying a project boat. The vessel must be structurally excellent, mechanically sound, professionally surveyable, well maintained, already substantially equipped, Great Lakes capable, insurable, and close to mission-ready.

How do you compare vessels?

On the estimated three-year all-in capital requirement, never on purchase price alone. The calculation includes asking and expected purchase price, survey and closing, delivery to Lake Superior, immediate survey-required work, initial refit, safety/navigation/communications, mission outfitting, years one through three of operating expenses, the protected operating reserve, and contingency. A $110,000 vessel needing very little work can be financially superior to a $65,000 vessel needing a $60,000 refit.

Have you bought the boat?

No. No vessel has been selected or acquired.

What kind of vessel are you looking for?

A high-quality fiberglass, fixed-keel sailing vessel of roughly 35–42 feet that is Great Lakes and cold-water capable, a proven cruising design, strongly built, manageable short-handed with realistic singlehanding capability, with a protected cockpit where practical, heating or strong heating potential, practical systems, good safety characteristics, serviceability, a practical interior, educator/scientist capacity, field workspace, media capability and a reasonable maintenance burden. Centerboards, keel/centerboard configurations, lifting keels, wood hulls and aluminum hulls are not approved.

Will Odyssey Discovery finance the vessel?

No. S/V Svala is designed to be entirely debt-free — no boat loans, financing, business or personal debt, founder borrowing, or personal guarantees. Capitalization comes primarily from outside funding such as corporate partnerships, sponsorships, grants where eligible, contributions where legally appropriate, approved in-kind partnerships and Svala-specific revenue. Odyssey Discovery is a for-profit business, so support is never presented as tax-deductible.

How big will Svala be?

Roughly 35 to 42 feet, most likely 37 to 40 — the smallest exceptional vessel that fully accomplishes the mission. A larger vessel is only chosen when the added size delivers meaningful mission capability that justifies the added cost and operating burden. Program capacity does not determine vessel size: programs use small teams aboard, shore lodging and day field operations, while Field Notes reaches a large audience ashore.

Does support give a sponsor ownership of Svala?

No. No sponsor, partner, funder, donor or supporting organization receives ownership of S/V Svala, Odyssey Discovery, Kirsten Alburg LLC, Field Notes: Explorer, Field Notes: Uncovered or Odyssey intellectual property. Support does not create equity or vessel ownership. Partner benefits are contracted recognition, storytelling, educational impact association, approved branding, content, activation, field participation and program association.

How is a Svala partnership structured?

Partnerships begin with a conversation, not a checkout. The current levels are Founding Partner $100,000+, Major Partner $50,000+, Discovery Partner $25,000+, Supporting Partner $10,000+, plus Custom / Strategic Partnership and In-Kind Mission Partner for approved equipment, expertise, services or infrastructure. These are starting points, and benefits are agreed in writing. The default planning assumption is one primary Founding Partner unless Kirsten approves otherwise. No partnership includes vessel ownership, equity, permanent naming rights, editorial control, content ownership, scientist endorsements, scientific influence, guaranteed media exposure or guaranteed audience numbers, and category exclusivity is never offered automatically.

Why should a company partner with Svala?

The proposition is not “sponsor our sailboat.” It is helping build a Great Lakes field platform connecting scientists, educators, conservation, storytelling and classrooms. Different organizations emphasize different parts: Great Lakes stewardship and field science, marine capability and technology, science storytelling through Field Notes: Uncovered, navigation and communications, regional Great Lakes impact, or field collaboration with educators and public science communication.

Do scientists and research organizations get a sponsorship pitch?

No. Corporate sponsors and science or institutional collaborators are separate lanes. Scientists, universities, research organizations, conservation groups and Sea Grant programs may contribute research collaboration, field projects, data, educational expertise, equipment, joint funding opportunities, approved research participation or storytelling collaboration. Collaboration never implies scientific endorsement of Odyssey Discovery or of any partner.

FOUNDING FUND — FIND + ACQUIRE + LAUNCH · VESSEL SEARCH ACTIVE · S/V Svala Founding Fund $350,000