With no way to safely pull it from the water, the Pilgrim – an icon of Dana Point Harbor – will be demolished.

The decision made over the weekend followed extensive efforts to salvage the tall ship after it heeled starboard suddenly in its dock next to the Ocean Institute on March 29.

A crane on a barge stands by to lift the sunken ship Pilgrim as divers and others work to try and stabilize the ship in Dana Point Harbor on Thursday, April 2, 2020 in Dana Point. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Pilgrim, center, sails under a cloudy skies during the Tall Ships Sunset Parade Sail on Friday, September 9, 2011 to launch the 27th Annual Toshiba Tall Ships Festival in Dana Point. (File photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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In a view overlooking the harbor, a crane on a barge stands by to lift the sunken ship Pilgrim as divers and others work to stabilize the ship in Dana Point Harbor on Thursday, April 2, 2020 in Dana Point. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Divers come to the surface above the sunken deck of the Pilgrim as workers prepare to stabilize the ship in Dana Point Harbor on Thursday, April 2, 2020 in Dana Point. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Ren Higgins, an instructor at the Ocean Institute, takes photos from a viewpoint overlooking the Dana Point Harbor as a crane on a barge stands by to lift the sunken ship Pilgrim while divers and other workers try and stabilize the ship on Thursday, April 2, 2020 in Dana Point. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)



Divers and other workers prepare to stabilize the Pilgrim as a crane on a barge stands by to lift the sunken ship in Dana Point Harbor on Thursday, April 2, 2020 in Dana Point. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

In a view overlooking the harbor, a crane on a barge stands by to lift the sunken ship Pilgrim as divers and others work to stabilize the ship in Dana Point Harbor on Thursday, April 2, 2020 in Dana Point. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Two standup paddle boarders make their way through Dana Point Harbor on Thursday, April 2, 2020, as the mast of the sunken ship Pilgrim leans to starboard while a crane on a barge stands by to lift the boat as divers and others work to try and stabilize the ship in Dana Point. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

A seagull sits atop the mast of the sunken ship Pilgrim as a crane on a barge stands by to lift the boat while divers and others work to stabilize the ship in Dana Point Harbor on Thursday, April 2, 2020 in Dana Point. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Divers and other workers prepare to stabilize the Pilgrim as a crane on a barge stands by to lift the sunken ship in Dana Point Harbor on Thursday, April 2, 2020 in Dana Point. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)



A standup paddle boarder looks on as a crane on a barge stands by to lift the sunken ship Pilgrim while divers and other workers try and stabilize the ship in the Dana Point Harbor on Thursday, April 2, 2020 in Dana Point. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Divers come to the surface above the sunken deck of the Pilgrim as workers prepare to stabilize the ship in Dana Point Harbor on Thursday, April 2, 2020 in Dana Point. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Divers and other workers prepare to stabilize the Pilgrim as a crane on a barge stands by to lift the sunken ship in Dana Point Harbor on Thursday, April 2, 2020 in Dana Point. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

As various people look on from the safety of the parking lot, a crane on a barge stands by to lift the sunken ship Pilgrim as divers and others work to try and stabilize the ship in Dana Point Harbor on Thursday, April 2, 2020 in Dana Point. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Workers remove parts of the sinking historic tallship Pilgrim at The Ocean Institute in Dana Point, CA, on Monday, March 30, 2020. The Pilgrim is a full-sized replica of the merchantman brig from Richard Henry Dana, Jr.’s classic novel “Two Years Before the Mast”. The ship was built in 1945 and has been in Dana Point since 1981. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)



Workers remove parts of the sinking historic tallship Pilgrim at The Ocean Institute in Dana Point, CA, on Monday, March 30, 2020. The Pilgrim is a full-sized replica of the merchantman brig from Richard Henry Dana, Jr.’s classic novel “Two Years Before the Mast”. The ship was built in 1945 and has been in Dana Point since 1981. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Reflected in the still morning water, the Pilgrim continues to list starboard in its slip on Tuesday morning, March 31, 2020, at the Ocean Institute in Dana Point, after the ship sank Sunday morning in Dana Point Harbor. The Ocean Institute maintained two tall ships, the brig Pilgrim, and the Spirit of Dana Point. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Reflected in the still morning water, the Pilgrim continues to list starboard in its slip on Tuesday morning, March 31, 2020, at the Ocean Institute in Dana Point, after the ship sank Sunday morning in Dana Point Harbor. The Ocean Institute maintained two tall ships, the brig Pilgrim, and the Spirit of Dana Point. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Filled with water, the Pilgrim continues to list starboard in its slip on Tuesday morning, March 31, 2020, at the Ocean Institute in Dana Point, after the ship sank Sunday morning in Dana Point Harbor. The Ocean Institute maintained two tall ships, the brig Pilgrim, and the Spirit of Dana Point. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

People out for a morning walk stop to view the Pilgrim, the decades-long icon at the Ocean Institute in Dana Point, as it continues to list starboard in its slip on Tuesday morning, March 31, 2020, after the ship sank Sunday morning in Dana Point Harbor. The Ocean Institute maintained two tall ships, the brig Pilgrim, and the Spirit of Dana Point.(Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)



A view looking down at the Ocean Institute, the Pilgrim, bottom left, a long time icon at the Ocean Institute in Dana Point, continues to list starboard in its slip on Tuesday morning, March 31, 2020, after the ship sank Sunday morning in Dana Point Harbor. The Spirit of Dana Point is docked at left.(Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

An early morning runner makes his way past the Pilgrim, at the Ocean Institute in Dana Point, as it continues to list starboard in its slip on Tuesday morning, March 31, 2020, after the ship sank Sunday morning in Dana Point Harbor. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

The Pilgrim, the decades-long icon at the Ocean Institute in Dana Point, continues to list starboard in its slip on Tuesday morning, March 31, 2020, after the ship sank Sunday morning in Dana Point Harbor. The Ocean Institute maintained two tall ships, the brig Pilgrim, and the Spirit of Dana Point. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

As the masts of the Spirit of Dana Point stand tall at back right, the Pilgrim, at left, continues to list starboard in its slip on Tuesday morning, March 31, 2020, at the Ocean Institute in Dana Point after the ship sank Sunday morning in Dana Point Harbor. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

A the sun tries to break through the early morning clouds, the Pilgrim, continues to list starboard in its slip on Tuesday morning, March 31, 2020, at the Ocean Institute in Dana Point, after the ship sank Sunday morning in Dana Point Harbor. The Ocean Institute maintained two tall ships, the brig Pilgrim, and the Spirit of Dana Point. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)



An Orange County Sheriff’s boat passes by the Pilgrim as it continues to list starboard in its slip on Tuesday morning, March 31, 2020, at the Ocean Institute in Dana Point, after the ship sank Sunday morning in Dana Point Harbor. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

A standup paddle boarder looks over while he passes by the Pilgrim at the Ocean Institute in Dana Point, as it continues to list starboard in its slip on Tuesday morning, March 31, 2020, after the ship sank Sunday morning in Dana Point Harbor. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Workers remove parts of the sinking historic tallship Pilgrim at The Ocean Institute in Dana Point, CA, on Monday, March 30, 2020. The Pilgrim is a full-sized replica of the merchantman brig from Richard Henry Dana, Jr.’s classic novel “Two Years Before the Mast”. The ship was built in 1945 and has been in Dana Point since 1981. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Workers remove parts of the sinking historic tallship Pilgrim at The Ocean Institute in Dana Point, CA, on Monday, March 30, 2020. The Pilgrim is a full-sized replica of the merchantman brig from Richard Henry Dana, Jr.’s classic novel “Two Years Before the Mast”. The ship was built in 1945 and has been in Dana Point since 1981. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Workers and a crane operator remove parts of the sinking historic tallship Pilgrim at The Ocean Institute in Dana Point, CA, on Monday, March 30, 2020. The Pilgrim is a full-sized replica of the merchantman brig from Richard Henry Dana, Jr.’s classic novel “Two Years Before the Mast”. The ship was built in 1945 and has been in Dana Point since 1981. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)



The historic tallship Pilgrim sits in the water at The Ocean Institute in Dana Point, CA, on Monday, March 30, 2020. The Pilgrim is a full-sized replica of the merchantman brig from Richard Henry Dana, Jr.’s classic novel “Two Years Before the Mast”. The ship was built in 1945 and has been in Dana Point since 1981. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

A worker and a crane operator remove parts of the sinking historic tallship Pilgrim at The Ocean Institute in Dana Point, CA, on Monday, March 30, 2020. The Pilgrim is a full-sized replica of the merchantman brig from Richard Henry Dana, Jr.’s classic novel “Two Years Before the Mast”. The ship was built in 1945 and has been in Dana Point since 1981. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

The historic tallship Pilgrim sits in the water at The Ocean Institute in Dana Point, CA, on Monday, March 30, 2020. The Pilgrim is a full-sized replica of the merchantman brig from Richard Henry Dana, Jr.’s classic novel “Two Years Before the Mast”. The ship was built in 1945 and has been in Dana Point since 1981. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

A worker and a crane operator remove parts of the sinking historic tallship Pilgrim at The Ocean Institute in Dana Point, CA, on Monday, March 30, 2020. The Pilgrim is a full-sized replica of the merchantman brig from Richard Henry Dana, Jr.’s classic novel “Two Years Before the Mast”. The ship was built in 1945 and has been in Dana Point since 1981. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

The historic tallship Pilgrim sits in the water at The Ocean Institute in Dana Point, CA, on Monday, March 30, 2020. The Pilgrim is a full-sized replica of the merchantman brig from Richard Henry Dana, Jr.’s classic novel “Two Years Before the Mast”. The ship was built in 1945 and has been in Dana Point since 1981. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)



A worker and a crane operator remove parts of the sinking historic tallship Pilgrim at The Ocean Institute in Dana Point, CA, on Monday, March 30, 2020. The Pilgrim is a full-sized replica of the merchantman brig from Richard Henry Dana, Jr.’s classic novel “Two Years Before the Mast”. The ship was built in 1945 and has been in Dana Point since 1981. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

A worker and a crane operator remove parts of the sinking historic tallship Pilgrim at The Ocean Institute in Dana Point, CA, on Monday, March 30, 2020. The Pilgrim is a full-sized replica of the merchantman brig from Richard Henry Dana, Jr.’s classic novel “Two Years Before the Mast”. The ship was built in 1945 and has been in Dana Point since 1981. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

The historic tallship Pilgrim sits in the water at The Ocean Institute in Dana Point, CA, on Monday, March 30, 2020. The Pilgrim is a full-sized replica of the merchantman brig from Richard Henry Dana, Jr.’s classic novel “Two Years Before the Mast”. The ship was built in 1945 and has been in Dana Point since 1981. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Workers and a crane operator remove parts of the sinking historic tallship Pilgrim at The Ocean Institute in Dana Point, CA, on Monday, March 30, 2020. The Pilgrim is a full-sized replica of the merchantman brig from Richard Henry Dana, Jr.’s classic novel “Two Years Before the Mast”. The ship was built in 1945 and has been in Dana Point since 1981. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

A worker and a crane operator remove parts of the sinking historic tallship Pilgrim at The Ocean Institute in Dana Point, CA, on Monday, March 30, 2020. The Pilgrim is a full-sized replica of the merchantman brig from Richard Henry Dana, Jr.’s classic novel “Two Years Before the Mast”. The ship was built in 1945 and has been in Dana Point since 1981. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)



Workers and a crane operator remove parts of the sinking historic tallship Pilgrim at The Ocean Institute in Dana Point, CA, on Monday, March 30, 2020. The Pilgrim is a full-sized replica of the merchantman brig from Richard Henry Dana, Jr.’s classic novel “Two Years Before the Mast”. The ship was built in 1945 and has been in Dana Point since 1981. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Workers and a crane operator remove parts of the sinking historic tallship Pilgrim at The Ocean Institute in Dana Point, CA, on Monday, March 30, 2020. The Pilgrim is a full-sized replica of the merchantman brig from Richard Henry Dana, Jr.’s classic novel “Two Years Before the Mast”. The ship was built in 1945 and has been in Dana Point since 1981. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Charlotte Burke, 4, runs past the sinking historic tallship Pilgrim at The Ocean Institute in Dana Point, CA, on Monday, March 30, 2020. The Pilgrim is a full-sized replica of the merchantman brig from Richard Henry Dana, Jr.’s classic novel “Two Years Before the Mast”. The ship was built in 1945 and has been in Dana Point since 1981. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Workers remove parts of the sinking historic tallship Pilgrim at The Ocean Institute in Dana Point, CA, on Monday, March 30, 2020. The Pilgrim is a full-sized replica of the merchantman brig from Richard Henry Dana, Jr.’s classic novel “Two Years Before the Mast”. The ship was built in 1945 and has been in Dana Point since 1981. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

The Pilgrim as it sits half-submerged in Dana Point Harbor on Monday. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)



A photo of the Pilgrim Early Monday as it sits half-submerged in Dana Point Harbor. (Photo courtesy of the Ocean Institute.)

The Pilgrim, a well-known tall ship docked at The Ocean Institute, keels starboard as it slowly takes on water in its slip in Dana Point Harbor on Sunday, March 29, 2020. (Photo By Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)

The Pilgrim, a well-known tall ship docked at The Ocean Institute, keels starboard as it slowly takes on water in its slip in Dana Point Harbor on Sunday, March 29, 2020. (Photo By Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)

Papers, ropes, coolers, and other ship equipment and tour props float as the Pilgrim takes on water and keels starboard on Sunday morning, March 29, 2020. (Photo By Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)

Bystanders look on as the Pilgrim, the famous tall ship docked in Dana Point Harbor, lists to the side as it slowly takes on water on Sunday morning, March 29, 2020. (Photo By Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)



The Pilgrim, a well-known tall ship docked at The Ocean Institute, keels starboard as it slowly takes on water in its slip in Dana Point Harbor on Sunday, March 29, 2020. (Photo By Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)

The Pilgrim, a well-known tall ship docked at The Ocean Institute, keels starboard as it slowly takes on water in its slip in Dana Point Harbor on Sunday, March 29, 2020. (Photo By Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)

The Pilgrim, a well-known tall ship docked at The Ocean Institute, keels starboard as it slowly takes on water in its slip in Dana Point Harbor on Sunday, March 29, 2020. (Photo By Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)

“We are probably still all in a bit of shock about everything related to the Pilgrim sinking,” said Wendy Marshall, president and CEO of the Ocean Institute. “When we were informed that the project pivoted from recovery to demolition, the sense of finality set in.

“It is unreal to think that the vessel that had so faithfully served as a living classroom to so many students is definitely no longer with us,” she said.

For a week, the Pilgrim’s crew, along with help from the Orange County Sheriff’s Harbor Patrol, the U.S. Coast Guard and a private vessel assist group, worked to lift the ship onto air cushions and take it to a shipyard where it could be inspected and the mystery solved about what caused the ship to sink.

But efforts to get the 75-year-old hull out of the water proved to be too risky for the divers involved and on Thursday, April 2, were halted by the U.S. Coast Guard.

At that point, Ocean Institute officials determined to save the ship drafted up other options to get it lifted without divers, but couldn’t get the Coast Guard’s approval.

Since news of the ship’s sinking spread, institute officials have received hundreds of stories and pictures from teachers and former students who visited the Pilgrim as a floating classroom on California history for more than 40 years.

“We aim to move quickly through this period of shock and into writing the next chapter and appreciate the outpouring of ideas we have received,” Marshall said.

The Pilgrim – a full-scale replica of the ship immortalized by Richard Henry Dana in his classic novel, “Two Years Before the Mast” – was a favorite during the Ocean Institute’s Tall Ships Festival.