Captain Eric Gustafson

Captain Eric Gustafson’s boating experience includes Small Sail and Power Vessels, Sailing Instructor, Costal Cruising and Sailboat Racing. His licensed experience consists of Coast Guard Licensed Master of Sail and Power vessels since 1980, handling both sail and power vessels, sailing instruction, Harbor Tours, Whale Watching, Dinner Cruises, Charters, Coastal Charters, three seasons of Whale Watching with Invader Cruises, eight Seasons Whale Watching with Hornblower Cruises and management of Vessel Operations and Vessel Maintenance. Capitan Eric earned his Bachelor of Science in Biology, Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Master of Arts in Environmental Geography.

Captain Richard Goben,

Hornblower’s Port Captain for over 25 years (pictured with Captain Gary Meyer)

Captain Richard Goben taught sailing while attending the University of California, San Diego.  During this time, he received his first Coast Guard license.  He ran classic sail and power passenger vessels for many years. During his college days, Richard became a writer for magazines, such as Sail, Sea, and other marine related publications. In the 1980s, he became involved in the America’s Cup sailboat races, and was a Navigator for Dennis Conners’ “B” team during the 1983 Cup races. In 1984, Richard began crewing on the 1863 Barque Star of India for the San Diego Maritime Museum.  In 1996, Richard served as Mate, then in 1998, became  Master.  The Star is the oldest active sailing ship in the world, and the only Class “A” sailing vessel known to not have an engine.  Captain Rich is still Master. In 1990, Hornblower Cruises bought Invader Cruises, and leased the 150 foot racing schooner, Invader.  Richard was the Captain of the Schooner Invader at the time, and joined  Hornblower as their Port Captain. He holds a Master’s license for power, steam and sail vessels of 1600 tons (Inland Mate) and 500 tons, (Ocean Master).  He is  also certified as Able Seaman, Unlimited.Captain Rich has been operating Passenger vessels since 1978, including Whale Watching vessels.  He completed the Naturalist class at the San Diego Natural History Museum, and serves as a volunteer on the Raptor Rehabilitation team for Project Wildlife.

Richard serves on the San Diego Harbor Safety Committee, and on the Executive Steering Committee of the Area Maritime Security Committee.  He also serves on the Safety and Security Committee for the Passenger Vessel Association of the United States. Richard is also an instructor in CPR/AED and First Aid for the American Red Cross.  In 1998, he received the “Outstanding Leadership” award from the Naval Order of the United States.  Each year, Richard heads a volunteer program to have Hornblower narrators serve on Family cruises on US Navy ships.  He has done this on over 50 Naval vessels. Other awards include the 2000 “Hospitality Employee of the Year” award from HSMA San Diego, and the 2001 “Creative Innovation in Sailing Programming” Award from US Sailing.  In 2002, Richard was awarded the first Annual “Roger Murphy National Safety Award” from the Passenger Vessel Association.  He now also serves on the PVA  National Safety and Security Committee.  In addition to his Port Captain duties, Richard is also the Facility and Vessel Security Officer for Hornblower San Diego.