The Rick Foundation announced that it would provide funds for the purchase of new wooden masts for the Golden Rule, the legendary peace sailing ketch that sank ignominiously in Humboldt Bay in 2011, and is now being lovingly restored at the Zerlang boatyard in Fairhaven, California by the Veterans for Peace.

The Golden Rule sailed into history in 1958, when former Navy lieutenant commander, Albert Bigelow, and three other men set out from California to deliberately intrude into the U.S. test zone in the Marshall Islands as a protest against the detonation of nuclear weapons in the atmosphere. That voyage inspired all of the nautical environmental and peace efforts that followed - including Greenpeace, the Sea Shepherds and others.

Rick Foundation director, Seth Rick, said that the gift of the masts for the Golden Rule was made in the memory of the Hiroshima Maidens, Japanese women who came to the U.S. for medical treatment following the atomic bombings of 1945. The Rick family hosted several of the Maidens at their home in New York state, and were profoundly affected by the experience.

Rick said, "Our foundation is totally committed to the restoration of the Golden Rule. To us she is a living symbol of selfless bravery in the pursuit of peace and opposition to nuclear weapons. We have raised her from the depths so that she can continue her mission."

Golden Rule restoration coordinator, Chuck Dewitt, expressed his gratitude. "We are well along with the rebuilding. The Rick Foundation’s generous gift brings the relaunch that much closer. In fact, they have already helped us out tremendously. I would estimate that we are 80 percent there. Our goal is to splash this year. We can always use more volunteers, and we welcome visitors. Who knows, you might wind up being as inspired as we are."

More information is available at the VFP Golden Rule Project website http://www.vfpgoldenruleproject.org.