After a century, Tabor Academy’s double-masted schooner has enough history beneath its sails to make the ship a fascinating, floating museum. But school officials aren’t relying on the S.S.V. Tabor Boy’s impressive past.

Very much a working vessel, each summer new students are invited aboard the ship for weeks of orientation and team building. Every three years, the Tabor Boy sails south so students in the Caribbean Studies Program can conduct coral research that is used by the U.S. National Park Service.

This year marks the 100th anniversary of the ship’s construction and 60 years since it arrived in Marion harbor as the school’s training vessel.

On Nov. 23, the documentary “Tabor Boy One Hundred Years at Sea” was aired on campus to celebrate those milestones. The film, written, directed and produced by John Rice (Class of 1970,) chronicles the school’s sailing program since the academy moved from the Town House to its current location.

Head of School John Quirk said the Tabor Boy is a great symbol for the school. Even though he struggles sometimes to describe its impact.

“When talking about the ship I’m vaguely aware that I sound like a ten-year-old child,” Quirk said. “I tell people it’s ‘neat’ and ‘it’s so cool.’ If you’ve been aboard and seen it first hand you know it makes an incredible impression.”

Built near Amsterdam, the Tabor Boy was originally christened Pilot Schooner No. 2. The Germans captured it during World War II and eventually American businessman R.C. Allen presented the ship as a gift to the academy.

“It’s a symbol of our school,” Quirk said. “It’s an ambassador that has traveled millions of miles across the globe.”

The current Tabor Boy is the fourth ship to sail for the school under that name.

The ships were used to augment the school’s nautical science curriculum started when headmaster Walter Huston Lillard moved Tabor Academy to the waterfront in 1916. There, new programs focused on developing student character through boating.

The crew members of one previous Tabor Boy made national news in 1933 when they sailed to the Chicago World’s Fair.

During the film, photographs and video of those ships, former crew members, and captains were shown. Some recalled fond memories of trips south, including one memorable excursion to Florida.

In 1969, Captain George Glaeser anchored the Tabor Boy near Cape Canaveral where crew members watched in awe as the Apollo 11 mission rocketed towards the moon.

Current Captain James Geil was hired in 1985 as a mate under Glaeser. In 1987, Geil was named captain following Glaeser’s retirement. With Geil at the helm, the ship passed through the Panama Canal in 1993. For the first time, it reached the waters of the Pacific Ocean.

Through the years, the captains have played an enormous role aboard the various Tabor Boy’s, however, it’s all been in service to the students, who learn practical sailing skills and something more valuable.

“The vessel provides opportunities for leadership,” Quirk said. “If you give kids real responsibility, they will rise up to the challenge.”