For hundreds of years, maritime superstition said women on ships made the sea angry. However one of the tall ships visiting Halifax this summer is breaking the belief entirely.   
   
The Tall Ship STV Unicorn, sailing out of Bridgeport, Connecticut, has the unique honor of being the only tall ship in the world that is crewed entirely by women. Most of them are teens.  
   
The Unicorn is co-owned by Dawn Santamaria who started a non-profit leadership program called Sisters Under Sail. The program was inspired by her four daughters. Its mission is to build confidence and self-esteem, develop their social conscience, and teach the value of working together toward a common goal.
   
Even though it’s thought by some to bring bad luck, Dawn says she believes it’s about time women take their place on the sea.   
   
“Traditionally, men at sea would always think fondly of women and name their ships womens’ names or would refer to them as ‘her,’” said Santamaria. “So I think it’s finally time that we women are here and we’re running our own boat.”  
   
The student training vessel was originally built in built in the Netherlands as a motor fishing ship in 1947 under the name Deo Volente. Her hull was made from metals recycled from captured German U-boats salvaged after World War II. Over 30 years later she was converted into a sailing ship and renamed Eenhoorn or “one horn. In 1986, Eenhoorn was sold and her name was changed to Unicorn and was sailed under the British flag as a charter vessel and treasure seeker. In 1997 she was purchased and refitted by a Canadian couple who renamed her “True North.”
   
Finally in 1999 she was purchased by her current owners Dawn and Jonathan Santamaria from New Jersey who took the ship to Lunenburg in 2003. There the schooner had a a bow-to-stern refit and was rechristened with her original name, Unicorn.   
    
Dawn Santamaria says owning the Unicorn started as her husband Jonathan’s dream for the family to sail the world but then turned into something else.  
    
“It’s been more of a fulfillment of a dream I didn’t even realize I had,” said Santamaria. “In the 13 years of owning the boat she has been more of a gift to me than to him because ‘Sisters Under Sail’ is a really powerful program and I am extremely passionate about our program and I love it.”  
   
The Unicorn and her all-female crew will be in Halifax until Monday. After the Parade of Sail, she will set off for Lunenburg.