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Port Townsend Wooden Boat Festival 2026
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Friday, September 11
 

8:00am PDT

Paid Session: What's Wrong with Your Boat's Electrical System?
Friday September 11, 2026 8:00am - 11:00am PDT
*Additional ticket purchase required for this paid workshop. Purchase workshop tickets here

If your boat has an electrical system, unfortunately, there’s a good chance something isn’t quite right.
In fact, many of the most common electrical system problems on boats—both power and sail— are built in by the boatbuilder. Poor design and questionable installations are compounded over time by well-intentioned but incomplete upgrades. 
Most mistakes remain hidden until vibration, corrosion, or some other factor results in an electrical system failure. Some are inconvenient. Others can be unsafe. The majority of boat fires originate in electrical systems.
Nigel Calder has seen it all.
In this workshop, Nigel walks through the most common electrical installation mistakes found on boats today—many of them surprisingly widespread—and shows you how to identify and correct them. From wiring issues to system design flaws, you’ll gain a clearer understanding of what’s happening behind the panels on your own boat.
You don’t need prior experience. This is about learning what to look for, what matters, and how to make your system safer and more reliable.
Chances are, you’ll recognize something that needs fixing on your own boat.
This workshop is the first of two complementary electrical sessions on Friday. Each stands alone, but together they provide a deeper understanding of onboard electrical systems.

Speakers
avatar for Nigel Calder

Nigel Calder

For decades, Nigel Calder has been one of the most trusted voices in marine systems—helping boat owners understand, maintain, and troubleshoot the systems they rely on. His books and teaching have guided countless sailors toward greater confidence and self-sufficiency on the water.Nigel... Read More →
Friday September 11, 2026 8:00am - 11:00am PDT
Technical Stage

9:30am PDT

Bluewater Sail inventory
Friday September 11, 2026 9:30am - 10:30am PDT
An overview of a Bluewater inventory of sails for a cruising sailboat. Deducing what sail is right for which boat, developing sail schedules, and a variety of vessel types will be covered in addition to sailing terminology, basic sail construction, cruising on your boat from calms to gales.
Speakers
avatar for Erica Georgaklis

Erica Georgaklis

Port Townsend Sails
Erica Georgaklis grew up sailing and racing in New England before moving to the Pacific Northwest. Once there she quickly found a 1938 Ed. Monk sloop, moved aboard and began exploring the Salish Sea. Smitten with boat life and all things cruising, she left work in arboriculture and... Read More →
Friday September 11, 2026 9:30am - 10:30am PDT
Discovery Stage

9:30am PDT

Paths of Stewardship: How Wooden Boats Endure
Friday September 11, 2026 9:30am - 10:30am PDT
A live, moderated conversation in the style of Beyond the Boat — but not recorded — featuring four panelists:•    A shipwright•    A wooden boat owner•    An operator/captain•    A representative from a maritime education programDuration: 60–75 minutesAudience Q&A included.
ConceptWooden boats endure not simply because they are beautiful, but because people choose to carry them forward.
This session explores how different roles — ownership, craftsmanship, seamanship, operations, and education — intersect in sustaining wooden boats. Each panelist represents a distinct path, yet all share responsibility for continuity.The conversation centers on:• Why individuals choose to commit to wooden boats• How responsibility shapes that commitment• What continuity requires from each role• How these paths overlap in real life
The goal is not technical instruction, but reflection. Wooden boats are more than vessels. They are places where people learn patience, care, accountability, and stewardship.
This session invites the audience to see wooden boats not as isolated projects, but as living ecosystems sustained by interconnected choices.
Why This Fits the FestivalThe Festival celebrates craftsmanship, tradition, and community. This conversation highlights the human dimension behind that celebration.Rather than focusing on tools, techniques, or restoration specifics, this session examines:• The values that sustain wooden boat culture• The shared responsibility between builders, owners, operators, and educators• The lived experience behind preservationIt speaks to current owners, aspiring stewards, and younger generations entering the field.
Intended ToneConversational, thoughtful, accessible.Honest about challenges.Grounded in lived experience.
This is not a lecture. It is a guided conversation designed to invite the audience into the deeper story of continuity.
Speakers
avatar for Leroy Lewis

Leroy Lewis

Leroy Lewis grew up in Northern Maryland, where he began sailing at age eleven on the Chesapeake Bay and nearby lakes, developing an early fascination with maritime history.After a 39-year career in engineering at Boeing, he returned more fully to that lifelong passion through wooden... Read More →
Friday September 11, 2026 9:30am - 10:30am PDT
Cruising Stage

10:00am PDT

Plug in Boats: Planning the conversation
Friday September 11, 2026 10:00am - 10:45am PDT
There is an increasing interest in powering boats with electricity but the technology of electric power is quite different from that of gas or diesel. Most boat builders and manufacturers are not yet capable of providing an “off the shelf” electric boat or do the conversion.  This presentation provides a framework for the planning that needs to be done for a conversion when doing it yourself.  The main topics are:Power and Energy NeedsSpace Needed Voltage, BatteriesMotors  and Motor ControllersSwitches and MonitoringRecharging
Speakers
avatar for Thomas Hruby

Thomas Hruby

Tom is a retired aquatic ecologist and a hobby boat builder who has built 20 boats ranging from Rob Roy canoes to the St. Pierre Dory. I built my first electric dory 30 years ago at a time when the only technology available was golf cart batteries and fork lift motors.  I also converted... Read More →
Friday September 11, 2026 10:00am - 10:45am PDT
Innovation Stage

10:00am PDT

Sharpening - Chisels and Planes
Friday September 11, 2026 10:00am - 10:45am PDT
Sharpening is a fundamental skill that every woodworker needs to know. Tim breaks down sharpening into a simple sequence of steps and shares tips and tricks to help you develop and refine your technique.
Speakers
avatar for Tim Lawson

Tim Lawson

Port Townsend School of Woodworking
Tim is one of the founders and was the founding Executive Director of the Port Townsend School of Woodworking based at Fort Worden.
Friday September 11, 2026 10:00am - 10:45am PDT
Boatyard

10:00am PDT

What's in the Water? Live Plankton Collection Demonstration
Friday September 11, 2026 10:00am - 10:45am PDT
Swimming and floating silently through the beautiful waters of the Salish Sea, microscopic plants called phytoplankton and animals called zooplankton form the basis of food chains leading up to orcas and to humans through salmon.  As microscopic plants, phytoplankton use the nutrients in the water, carbon dioxide, and sunlight to grow until they are, well, eaten by zooplankton.  Different species of zooplankton can either stay small or can undergo a series of changes to become the larger animals we are more familiar with (including fish, mussels, crabs, worms, and barnacles to name just a few).  Come and prepare samples of live freshly collected plankton and observe these beautiful organisms on our microscopes.  Experts in plankton identification will be available to talk to you about what you see as you are looking at the samples!
Speakers
avatar for Lee Bebout

Lee Bebout

Lee worked as a microbial ecologist / geobiologist, spending lots of time near water, but is enjoying being out on the water even more in retirement.  She enjoys looking at water and sediment samples under the microscope and always learning more about the Salish Sea.  She also enjoys... Read More →
avatar for Brad Bebout

Brad Bebout

Brad and co-presenter Lee Bebout met while studying harmful algal blooms on the Neuse River in North Carolina.  After short postdoctoral stays at the Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology in Bremen, Germany, and at the University of Maryland’s Horn Point Lab, they both went... Read More →
Friday September 11, 2026 10:00am - 10:45am PDT
Marine Science Stage

11:00am PDT

All about Dovetails
Friday September 11, 2026 11:00am - 11:45am PDT
In this presentation, John will discuss Dovetails: through, half-blind, compound angled, sliding and housed-tapered. He will cut some simple dovetails. He will have examples of these, with a set of parts showing the steps to cutting the various sorts.
Speakers
avatar for John P. McCormack

John P. McCormack

John P. McCormack Furniture
John P. McCormackwww.johnpmccormackdesign.comI've paddled the complete Canadian portion of the inside Passage solo, including a circumnavigation of Princess Royal I. and a trip from SG̱ang Gwaay to Queen Charlotte City. Our coast as you go north, reminds me of Yosemite Valley (I... Read More →
Friday September 11, 2026 11:00am - 11:45am PDT
Boatyard

11:00am PDT

Shellfish Safety: To Dig or Not to Dig
Friday September 11, 2026 11:00am - 11:45am PDT
Are you a shellfish eater, digger, shucker, or admirer? Have you ever wondered why shellfish are one of the safest proteins you can put on your plate? Washington is renowned for bivalve production and harvest opportunity, from geoduck to razor clams, but shellfish shouldn’t be harvested willy nilly anytime or any place. From marine toxins to bacteria, come learn about the work that goes into knowing where, when, and why you should, or shouldn’t, eat shellfish.
Speakers
avatar for Tracie Barry

Tracie Barry

Washington Department of Health
Tracie Barry is a lifelong clam digger and the Marine Biotoxin Specialist for the Washington State Department of Health (DOH), where she coordinates shellfish marine biotoxin surveillance testing. Prior to regulating marine toxins in shellfish, she studied marine microalgae and documented... Read More →
Friday September 11, 2026 11:00am - 11:45am PDT
Marine Science Stage

11:00am PDT

Chasing the light on the water - Wooden Boat Photography
Friday September 11, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm PDT
The water has its own light — and it changes everything. Jeff Eichen leads this on-the-water photography workshop during the Wooden Boat Festival, sharing the techniques and instincts he's honed over a lifetime. We will touch upon The History and the digital darkroom as well. All skill levels welcome.
Speakers
avatar for Jeffrey Eichen

Jeffrey Eichen

Rawmaste® Productions & Goods
Jeff Eichen was born in California in 1958, and photography found him early. At seventeen, he studied under Ansel Adams at the legendary Yosemite Workshop in 1975, then continued his training with at the University of Oregon in 1976 — In 1979, Jeff ventured to the Netherlands as... Read More →
Friday September 11, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm PDT
Discovery Stage

11:00am PDT

PNW Marine Weather
Friday September 11, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm PDT
Whether it’s sailors griping about lack of wind, or powerboaters fearing steep and dangerous seas - the conditions in the Pacific Northwest present special challenges, due to the complexity of the many weather systems that interact in this region.  Captain Phyllis Woolwine owns Shearwater University - Maritime Education.  Speaking from 50 years of experience on the Salish Sea & Inside Passage, and 11 years providing custom training for hundreds of boaters of all types in these waters, she will provide a highly practical, science based, and interactive seminar on Pacific Northwest Marine Weather.  This topic is presented in a conceptual, non-technical manner that all boaters can understand and apply.
- What makes PNW marine weather so complex - and how can we make sense of it?
- Strategies to ensure that sailors get wind, powerboaters avoid dangerous seas, and all boaters use knowledge & strategies to stay safe, advantaging our crazy conditions.
  - Best sources & apps for marine weather - and the best ways to use them
Speakers
avatar for Phyllis Woolwine

Phyllis Woolwine

Shearwater University
Captain Phyllis Woolwine is a leader in Maritime Education in the Northwest, and owner of Shearwater University in Anacortes, Washington.  “Captain Wooly” and her crew specialize in custom instruction on boats of all types and sizes.  Outstanding instruction on the water, online... Read More →
Friday September 11, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm PDT
Adventure Stage

11:00am PDT

Wooden Boats, Regattas, the living Maritime Heritage of the Bahamas
Friday September 11, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm PDT
Traditional wooden sailing vessels remain central to the maritime culture of The Bahamas. Built by hand and sailed competitively across the islands, Bahamian sloops represent a living tradition that connects craftsmanship, community, and cultural identity. This presentation explores the history and contemporary significance of wooden boat building and regatta sailing in The Bahamas, examining how these vessels function as both technological achievements and cultural symbols. Drawing on archival research, oral histories, and field documentation of regattas throughout the archipelago, the talk highlights the builders and sailors who sustain this tradition and the communities that gather around it. Particular attention is given to the role of wooden boats in national regattas and island competitions, where rivalries, local pride, and generational knowledge intersect on the water. The presentation situates Bahamian sloop sailing within broader discussions of maritime heritage, demonstrating how wooden boats continue to carry cultural memory and identity across generations.
Speakers
MP

Michael Pateman

Sustainable Resources
H.E. Dr. Michael P. Pateman is an archaeologist, cultural historian, and Ambassador-at-Large for History, Culture, and Museology for The Bahamas. His work focuses on documenting and interpreting Bahamian heritage through community engagement, filmmaking, and storytelling. His research... Read More →
Friday September 11, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm PDT
Innovation Stage

11:00am PDT

Inspiring the next generation of Riggers
Friday September 11, 2026 11:00am - 12:30pm PDT
Panel discussion of how various riggers stumbled into the field, some of their experiences, how they pass along the knowledge to newcomers
Speakers
avatar for Courtney Andersen

Courtney Andersen

Courtney Andersen was born in Minnesota of good Viking heritage.  Water has always been in his blood: first the small and Great Lakes, then travels following the Mississippi in the wake of Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn.  As a child his family moved down to the Gulf Coast of Mississippi... Read More →
Friday September 11, 2026 11:00am - 12:30pm PDT
Cruising Stage

12:00pm PDT

Adventure sketching
Friday September 11, 2026 12:00pm - 12:45pm PDT
Prepare for sketching on your adventures, whether exploring Port Townsend or sailing around a far-flung island! Join expeditionary artist and Art Toolkit founder Maria Coryell-Martin to explore fundamental sketching techniques and essential tools for creating colorful and expressive sketches. We’ll practice gesture, contour, and thumbnail sketches to quickly capture a sense of place and to encourage creative flow and inquiry. We’ll provide Art Toolkit travel palettes and brushes to try out, and all levels are welcome! Bonus: show off your Festival wristband at the Art Toolkit shop on 1003 Water Street for a 10% discount!
Speakers
avatar for Maria Coryell-Martin

Maria Coryell-Martin

Art Toolkit
Maria Coryell-Martin is an expeditionary artist following the tradition of traveling artists as naturalists and educators. Maria’s travels have brought her face-to-face with polar bears, leopard seals, emperor penguins, and narwhals. A memorable experience juggling clumsy sketching... Read More →
Friday September 11, 2026 12:00pm - 12:45pm PDT
Boatyard

12:00pm PDT

Capt Cooks 1772-75 circumnavigation of Antarctica
Friday September 11, 2026 12:00pm - 12:45pm PDT
During 1772-1775, Captain James Cook on the HMS Resolution circumnavigated Antarctica for the first time. Because his cruise determined latitude and longitude from the Kendell K1 clock combined with sextant observations, Cook's data described the spatial distribution of Antarctic icebergs and sea ice. His insistence that the ship be kept scrupulously clean and the men offered varieties of food meant that only two of his 112 men died, none from scurvy. The ship carried an artist, William Hodges, where his iceberg drawings will be compared with our photographs. Although the Resolution came within 100 km of Antarctica and crossed the Antarctic circle three times, it did not find land. In its furthest south, it was the first ship to reach Pine Island Bay, which was filled with massive icebergs and is now known to contain the outflow of the critical Thwaites Glacier. Comparison of Cook’s 250-year-old observations of iceberg and sea ice with ours shows that although there is less sea ice now, the iceberg distributions are about the same.
Speakers
avatar for Seelye Martin

Seelye Martin

Seelye Martin worked for thirty years at the University of Washington in Seattle, studying sea ice, icebergs, and the giant ice sheets. From 2006-2008, he served at NASA Headquarters in Washington DC as program manager for the cryosphere, where he helped develop the IceBridge aircraft... Read More →
Friday September 11, 2026 12:00pm - 12:45pm PDT
Innovation Stage

12:00pm PDT

Rigging tool Specifics and Application
Friday September 11, 2026 12:00pm - 12:45pm PDT
A breakdown of the basic and more niche tools used while doing rigging and how you can make them fit your needs or project specifications.
Speakers
avatar for Tanith Anhaiser

Tanith Anhaiser

Tanith Anhaiser is a journeyman in the rigging, maintenance, and sailing of historic wooden vessels designed between 1780 and 1920’s. She’s been involved in the US Tall Ships fleet since 2020 and in the 6 years since she started sailing she’s sailed on several boats internationally... Read More →
Friday September 11, 2026 12:00pm - 12:45pm PDT
Sail Stage

12:00pm PDT

Shipwrecks and Derelict Crab Pots: Finding Lost Stuff on the Ocean Floor
Friday September 11, 2026 12:00pm - 12:45pm PDT
There are numerous historic ship and plane wrecks on the deep seafloor in the Pacific that resulted from accidents, wars, and purposeful disposals.  Locating and surveying these wrecks benefits the understanding of our cultural heritage and provides reasons to resurrect their history and stories of heroism and tragedy.  I and others have found wrecks thousands of feet below the surface by beginning with a review of available information on their sinking.   This is followed by the use of various types of sonar and software to identify potential targets to investigate.  Describing these techniques is the topic of this presentation.
Speakers
avatar for Christopher Kelley

Christopher Kelley

Dr. Christopher Kelley retired from the University of Hawaii in 2018 after serving 18 years as the program biologist for the Hawaii Undersea Research Laboratory (HURL) and as graduate research faculty for the Oceanography Department at the University of Hawaii.  His responsibilities... Read More →
Friday September 11, 2026 12:00pm - 12:45pm PDT
Marine Science Stage

12:00pm PDT

Paid Session: Find the Problem: Boat Electrical Troubleshooting Made Simple
Friday September 11, 2026 12:00pm - 3:00pm PDT
*Additional ticket purchase required for this paid workshop. Purchase workshop tickets here


When something electrical stops working on your boat, it can feel like a mystery.
Is it the battery? A connection? A wiring issue? And where do you even begin?
In this workshop, Nigel Calder breaks troubleshooting down into clear, step-by-step processes that any boat owner can follow. Using simple tools—especially a multimeter—you’ll learn how to identify the most common electrical problems and trace them to their source.
No prior experience is required. This is about building confidence—understanding what you’re looking at, knowing what to test, and being able to take action instead of guessing.
Along the way, you’ll also learn how to prevent common issues like premature battery failure and avoid unnecessary service calls.
On today’s increasingly complex boats, electrical systems can be one of the biggest sources of frustration—or one of the most empowering areas of knowledge.
This workshop helps tip the balance. It complements the morning session on electrical installation issues, but can be taken independently.

This workshop is the second of two complementary electrical sessions on Friday. Each can be taken independently, but together they provide a deeper understanding of onboard electrical systems.

Speakers
avatar for Nigel Calder

Nigel Calder

For decades, Nigel Calder has been one of the most trusted voices in marine systems—helping boat owners understand, maintain, and troubleshoot the systems they rely on. His books and teaching have guided countless sailors toward greater confidence and self-sufficiency on the water.Nigel... Read More →
Friday September 11, 2026 12:00pm - 3:00pm PDT
Technical Stage

12:30pm PDT

10 Secrets to Navigating Your Wooden Sailboat Restoration
Friday September 11, 2026 12:30pm - 1:30pm PDT
1) Finding the Right Girl
2)What to Look For – What to Look Out For
3)The Importance of a Good Survey
4)Listen to What She Says
5) Boatyard Survival
6)Shipwrights and Ship Wrongs
7)Keeping Your Mate on Board
8)Don't Lose the Dream
9)The Difference is in the Details
10)What We Do For Love
Speakers
avatar for Michael Effler

Michael Effler

Sea Sensations
The architectural design team behind Sea Sensations, Michael and Erin have owned and renovated wooden boats and classic yachts for over 35 years.
In his early 20's Michael Effler bought and restored an 18' centerboard Cat boat. Later he restored a 33' Kings Amethyst center cockpit... Read More →
avatar for Erin Leader

Erin Leader

Sea Sensations
Friday September 11, 2026 12:30pm - 1:30pm PDT
Discovery Stage

12:30pm PDT

The thrill of building the Viking ship
Friday September 11, 2026 12:30pm - 1:30pm PDT
The program will illustrate Viking culture and traditional ship construction, from harvesting trees to launch. Aspøya Boats in Anacortes, Washington drew a community of volunteers and shipwrights to accomplish a nearly insurmountable challenge. Valkyrie was launched in the spring of 2024 and now sails the Salish Sea in Washington State.
Speakers
avatar for Jay Smith

Jay Smith

Aspøya Boats
Over the last 35 years Jay Smith has researched and built Nordic lapstrake boats, beginning in a small boat shop on a fjord in western Norway. A seven month apprenticeship in the Faroe Islands, sponsored by the Danmark-America Foundation, established a firm footing for future work... Read More →
Friday September 11, 2026 12:30pm - 1:30pm PDT
Adventure Stage

1:00pm PDT

Protecting Vital Eelgrass Habitat through No Anchor Zones
Friday September 11, 2026 1:00pm - 1:45pm PDT
The Jefferson County Marine Resource Committee is an advisory group to the Jeffco Commissioners. In addition it's members undertake projects, with financial support from the Northwest Straits Commission to maintain and improve the Jeffco marine ecology. The No Anchor Zones is one of our persistent projects, started in 2004. We have installed buoys, that ask boaters to moor outside nearshore areas, to protect Subaquatic Vegetation and shellfish beds in 3 areas in Jefferson County.


Speakers
avatar for Gordon King

Gordon King

Taylor Shellfish Inc
The Jefferson County Marine Resource Committee is an advisory group to the Jeffco Commissioners. In addition it's members undertake projects, with financial support from the Northwest Straits Commission to maintain and improve the Jeffco marine ecology. The No Anchor Zones is one... Read More →
Friday September 11, 2026 1:00pm - 1:45pm PDT
Marine Science Stage

1:00pm PDT

The Development of the Square-Rigged Ship
Friday September 11, 2026 1:00pm - 1:45pm PDT
From the daring voyages of the Golden Hinde to the graceful 19th-century sailing vessels ELISSA and STAR OF INDIA to the powerful brute strength of the 1904 four-masted barque MOSHULU, the square-rigged ship evolved into one of the most influential technologies in maritime history.
Beginning with the compact, heavily-built galleons of the Age of Exploration, we follow the transformation through towering clouds of canvas of the Clippers, and ultimately the iron and steel windjammers that represented the pinnacle of square-rig efficiency. Along the way, we examine how advances in naval architecture, metallurgy, and seamanship allowed square-rigged vessels to grow larger, faster, and more specialized—culminating in the powerful deep-water sailing ships like MOSHULU that closed the age of commercial sail.
This presentation traces that development across three centuries, exploring how changing trade routes, naval warfare, materials, and shipyard innovation shaped hull design, rigging complexity, and sail plans.
Speakers
avatar for Jamie White

Jamie White

The SquareRigger
Since the early 1980s, master rigger Jamie White has sailed over 30,000 miles as bosun, mate, or master on square-rigged and traditionally-rigged vessels.  He is currently master rigger on the 1938 topsail schooner SWIFT OF IPSWICH rig restoration, and has served as master/chief... Read More →
Friday September 11, 2026 1:00pm - 1:45pm PDT
Sail Stage

1:00pm PDT

The resourceful sailor: Creative solutions to Boat Modifications and repairs
Friday September 11, 2026 1:00pm - 1:45pm PDT
Preparing a small boat for big adventures takes creativity. Joshua Wheeler shares practical, sometimes unorthodox solutions he used to ready his Flicka 20 for offshore cruising—offering thoughtful, outside-the-box, and affordable approaches to keep you sailing. As seen on Latitude 38 and Small Craft Advisor.
Speakers
avatar for Joshua Wheeler

Joshua Wheeler

Sailing With Josh
Joshua Wheeler has sailed and lived on small craft for 15 years and 25,000 nautical miles. Credits include a 2019 transit of the Northwest Passage, two solo circumnavigations of Vancouver Island in 2018 and 2023, the Inside Passage to Alaska in 2022, and a Pacific tour in 2023-24... Read More →
Friday September 11, 2026 1:00pm - 1:45pm PDT
Innovation Stage

1:00pm PDT

Sailmakers panel
Friday September 11, 2026 1:00pm - 2:30pm PDT
Moderated by Mark Shiner
Allison Wood, Emiliano Marino, 

What does it mean to devote your life to making sails?
Part craft, part engineering, part problem-solving, sailmaking sits at the intersection of tradition and performance — shaping the way boats move through the world. Join a conversation with working sailmakers as they share stories from the loft, discuss the evolution of the craft, and explore what it takes to build sails for everything from traditional wooden boats to modern voyaging vessels.
In many parts of the world, traditional sailmaking is becoming increasingly rare. Here in Port Townsend, it remains a vibrant and active part of the working waterfront.
Speakers
avatar for Mark Shiner

Mark Shiner

Orkney College Maritime Studies Dept. University of the Highlands and Islands.
Mark Shiner has been on the water since around the age of 6. He holds a commercial skipper’s UK Certificate of Competence which is similar to the US Coastguard “Six Pack” and is also qualified to instruct skippers to that level.Mark began sailmaking in the Orkney islands, Scotland... Read More →
Friday September 11, 2026 1:00pm - 2:30pm PDT
Cruising Stage

1:00pm PDT

Doing Round Work: Making a Ship's Wheel and turning parts for Boats
Friday September 11, 2026 1:00pm - 2:45pm PDT
In this presentation, John will discuss how turning is useful for boatbuilding. Making a Ship's Wheel and turning boat parts like belaying pins, stanchions, serving and caulking mallets will be discussed.
Speakers
avatar for John P. McCormack

John P. McCormack

John P. McCormack Furniture
John P. McCormackwww.johnpmccormackdesign.comI've paddled the complete Canadian portion of the inside Passage solo, including a circumnavigation of Princess Royal I. and a trip from SG̱ang Gwaay to Queen Charlotte City. Our coast as you go north, reminds me of Yosemite Valley (I... Read More →
Friday September 11, 2026 1:00pm - 2:45pm PDT
Boatyard

2:00pm PDT

Copper Free Bottom Paint: Regulations, Reality and What's next
Friday September 11, 2026 2:00pm - 2:45pm PDT
Copper-based bottom paint is facing increasing regulation—but what does that mean for boaters? Get up to date on current laws, emerging alternatives, and what’s really changing in the world of marine coatings.Non-copper - it's the law! Or is it? Let's get up to date on the latest history, regulations, and developments as we march forward to a cleaner, more innovative future in controlling marine fouling.
Speakers
avatar for David Atwater

David Atwater

AkzoNobel

Friday September 11, 2026 2:00pm - 2:45pm PDT
Innovation Stage

2:00pm PDT

Derelict Vessel Removal program
Friday September 11, 2026 2:00pm - 2:45pm PDT
Discuss the derelict and abandoned vessel program
Speakers
JF

Jerry Farmer

WADNR DVRP
Jerry Farmer works for the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) as a Natural Resource Specialist for the Derelict Vessel Removal Program; a position he has held since August 2012.  Jerry honorably retired from the United States Coast Guard in June 2012 after serving... Read More →
Friday September 11, 2026 2:00pm - 2:45pm PDT
Marine Science Stage

2:00pm PDT

Rebuilding the Seven Sisters boats for the community - an idea in a pub to reality
Friday September 11, 2026 2:00pm - 2:45pm PDT

Friday September 11, 2026 2:00pm - 2:45pm PDT
Sail Stage
  • about a lifelong sailor with experience ranging across a variety of sizes and rigs, Sue has always had a fascination for knots and the maritime tradition of Marlinspike Seamanship which links craftsmanship with functionality. Sue now operates as a yacht rigger and professional rope maker and knot-tyer. She works with traditional and modern materials. Sue is the Chair of the Trustees of the International Guild of Knot-Tyers, a UK based organisation with members in over thirty countries, that exists to ensure that the skills involved in knot tying are promoted and don't die out. Sue is regularly asked to demonstrate ropemaking which she loves to do as it is a hands on activity that, with guidance, anyone young and old can master the basics of very quickly.

2:00pm PDT

Rebuilding the Seven Sisters boats for the community- an idea in a pub to reality
Friday September 11, 2026 2:00pm - 2:45pm PDT
Sue has been the rigger on an audacious project to rebuild the Dublin Bay 21 class. This class comprised seven boats built to an Alfred Mylne design between 1903 and 1908. Five of boats have now been rebuilt with number six to be launched in 2026 and number seven in build. The five boats are racing regularly in Ireland and are operated by a class association with access for all. This is their story.
Speakers
avatar for Sue Pennison

Sue Pennison

Rigging and Ropework
A lifelong sailor with experience ranging across a variety of sizes and rigs, Sue has always had a fascination for knots and the maritime tradition of Marlinspike Seamanship which links craftsmanship with functionality. Sue now operates as a yacht rigger and professional rope maker... Read More →
Friday September 11, 2026 2:00pm - 2:45pm PDT
Sail Stage

2:00pm PDT

Rebuilding the Seven Sisters boats for the community- an idea in a pub to reality
Friday September 11, 2026 2:00pm - 2:45pm PDT
Sue has been the rigger on an audacious project to rebuild the Dublin Bay 21 class. This class comprised seven boats built to an Alfred Mylne design between 1903 and 1908. Five of boats have now been rebuilt with number six to be launched in 2026 and number seven in build. The five boats are racing regularly in Ireland and are operated by a class association with access for all. This is their story.
Speakers
avatar for Sue Pennison

Sue Pennison

Rigging and Ropework
A lifelong sailor with experience ranging across a variety of sizes and rigs, Sue has always had a fascination for knots and the maritime tradition of Marlinspike Seamanship which links craftsmanship with functionality. Sue now operates as a yacht rigger and professional rope maker... Read More →
Friday September 11, 2026 2:00pm - 2:45pm PDT
Sail Stage

2:00pm PDT

Self reliance in sewing - Save money & keep sailing
Friday September 11, 2026 2:00pm - 3:00pm PDT
It is best not to assume that professional help is available for canvas work and sail repair while out cruising.  Having the skills to be sewing-self-reliant can make or break a cruise.  This presentation details how attaining the skills and resources for canvas work and simple sail repair is not difficult for cruising sailors. It provides insights into the materials and supplies required for a variety of projects to be sure you have them available when you leave the dock.
Speakers
avatar for Philip DiNuovo

Philip DiNuovo

Philip DiNuovo & Leslie Linkkila began sailing together in 1991 when they bought a small aging weekender sailboat from a neighbor and set about to learn to sail on the chilly waters of the Puget Sound of Washington. With just one idyllic summer cruise in the Salish Sea, their dream... Read More →
avatar for Leslie Linkkila

Leslie Linkkila

Leslie Linkkila & Philip DiNuovo began sailing together in 1991 when they bought a small aging weekender sailboat from a neighbor and set about to learn to sail on the chilly waters of the Puget Sound of Washington. With just one idyllic summer cruise in the Salish Sea, their dream... Read More →
Friday September 11, 2026 2:00pm - 3:00pm PDT
Discovery Stage

2:00pm PDT

Stars to Steer by: Celebrating 20th Century women who went to sea
Friday September 11, 2026 2:00pm - 3:00pm PDT
The sea doesn't care what gender you are. But other people do — or did. Grand yacht clubs banned female members, the Royal Navy rejected the WW2 Wrens, and even when leisure sailing was opening to a wider public, women's social and economic inequality made participation harder. My presentation will focus on some of the inspiring women, throughout the c20th, who  went to sea anyway. They were the pioneers whose spirit of independence led the way for others. Some names you will have heard of but too many were invisible or forgotten.  We can change that.
Speakers
avatar for Julia Jones

Julia Jones

Golden Duck
Julia has been sailing all her life. That doesn't mean she's a particularly talented or adventurous sailor, just that it's an integral part of who she is. Her boat, Peter Duck, is also a part of her identity. PD is a wooden ketch built in 1946 for the Swallows and Amazons author... Read More →
Friday September 11, 2026 2:00pm - 3:00pm PDT
Adventure Stage

3:00pm PDT

Composting and Diversion Toilets
Friday September 11, 2026 3:00pm - 3:45pm PDT
Geoff Trott will explain the science and practicality behind urine-diverting composting toilet systems, including how they work, what they require, and where they fit best on boats. The seminar will review recent developments in the technology and compare these systems with conventional marine plumbing and holding tank arrangements, with a focus on odor control, installation, maintenance, reliability, and real-world use.
Speakers
GT

Geoffrey Trott

Air Head Composting Toilet
Geoff Trott is the designer of the first mobile urine-diverting composting toilet system and the founder and manufacturer of Air Head Composting Toilet. A lifelong sailor, inventor, and hands-on problem solver, Geoff has spent decades developing practical sanitation solutions for... Read More →
Friday September 11, 2026 3:00pm - 3:45pm PDT
Innovation Stage

3:00pm PDT

Puffins: beloved Sentinels of Ocean Health
Friday September 11, 2026 3:00pm - 3:45pm PDT
Who doesn’t love Puffins? With their brightly colored parrot-bills, tuxedo plumage, and upright waddle-walk, these iconic seabirds are cherished around the world. Not only are plush toy Puffins found in gift shops everywhere, but their chubby images may also be found on national coins, banknotes and stamps in dozens of countries.  Also known as “clowns of the sea”, public lore suggests they live a care-free life of little hobbits in their burrows on idyllic grassy offshore islands. However, the reality is that puffins are athletic, resilient, and voracious marine predators living in an extreme environment for birds. Agile and fast aerial flyers, they also “fly” under water to great depths in pursuit of schooling prey. In this presentation, you will find out why puffins are among the most successful seabird species breeding in the Northern Hemisphere, and how they thrive in remote ocean wildernesses. You will also learn about their “Achille’s heel” (greatest weakness), and what is currently the greatest threat to their survival.
Speakers
avatar for John Piatt

John Piatt

World Puffin Congress
John Piatt is a marine biologist who has studied seabirds and ocean ecosystems in the north Pacific and Atlantic oceans for the past few decades. During that time, John had a front row seat to witness the impact on puffins of overfishing their food supplies, bycatch in gillnets, the... Read More →
Friday September 11, 2026 3:00pm - 3:45pm PDT
Marine Science Stage

3:00pm PDT

She Takes the Helm
Friday September 11, 2026 3:00pm - 3:45pm PDT
I would like to do a reading and discussion of my book. If there is a writer's presentation, I would like to attend, present, and participate in any book signing.
Speakers
avatar for Mary Jacobs

Mary Jacobs

Fishing Vessel Renaissance
Moving to Alaska for adventure, Mary Jacobs’s job—and pay—at the cannery fails to excite. When she begins working on a fishing vessel, she is hooked. But in this man’s world, if women get hired, they usually cook, clean, and do unimportant jobs. Mary aspires for more. Much... Read More →
Friday September 11, 2026 3:00pm - 3:45pm PDT
Boatyard

3:00pm PDT

The Compelling Power of Adventure
Friday September 11, 2026 3:00pm - 4:00pm PDT
What do most adventurers have in common? How do they ensure they get to base camp fit and ready to take on the actual challenge they set out to accomplish? How do they handle fear? And how do they handle the fear of failure?  This talk is for a more general audience but of course is based on my sailing experience.
Possible other topics – Storm Tactics, preparing for and handling storms at seaHow to encourage your partner to share your dream?Creating an unstoppable boat.
Speakers
avatar for Lin Pardey

Lin Pardey

L Pardey books
Lin Pardey literally wrote the book—many books—on cruising, inspiring generations of sailors to embrace the ethos of go small, go simple, go now. Over several decades, she and her late husband, Larry, built two boats—the 24-foot Seraffyn and the 29-foot Taleisin—and sailed... Read More →
Friday September 11, 2026 3:00pm - 4:00pm PDT
Cruising Stage

3:30pm PDT

The Slow Build of La Belle Sauvage, A father/daughter team spend 6 years building an 11 foot dinghy
Friday September 11, 2026 3:30pm - 4:30pm PDT
Solianna and her father Bruce spent six years —from  the time Solianna was age 13 to 19 — building a sailing dingy from scratch. They will recount the project from the design process to the harvesting of wood from the forests and beaches of Orcas Island to the construction of the standing lug sail.
Speakers
avatar for Solianna Halabisky

Solianna Halabisky

Solianna Halabisky is a second year student at the University of Washington where she is studying ornithology. She was born in New Zealand when her parents Bruce and Tiffany Halabisky were two years into an 11 year circumnavigation on their Atkin cutter, Vixen. When not at university... Read More →
Friday September 11, 2026 3:30pm - 4:30pm PDT
Adventure Stage

3:30pm PDT

Wooden Steam Powered Mosquitos of the Salish Sea
Friday September 11, 2026 3:30pm - 4:30pm PDT
A short history of the steam-powered Mosquito boats of the Salish Sea. From that time, the best way for freight and travel was on one of the 1000 or so steamboats. Not just pretty pictures of boats, but rather just how they operated. Evolution of steam engines from Watt atmospheric to the triple expansion. Fuels, “Bell boats”, and how they worked. Ships that operated year-round with no navigation instruments, accurate charts, and manned by men who understood neither.
Speakers
SP

Stewart Pugh

Virginia V
Stewart is crew on the last passenger steamship, the 104-year-old SS Virginia V.  He loves old work boats, marine engines, and their history. He is the captain of a Salish Sea research vessel.
Friday September 11, 2026 3:30pm - 4:30pm PDT
Discovery Stage

4:00pm PDT

The Secret Lives of Harbor Porposies
Friday September 11, 2026 4:00pm - 4:45pm PDT
Harbor porpoises are one of the most abundant marine mammal species in the Salish Sea, however there is much we don't know about this often elusive species. Pacific Mammal Research (PacMam) has spent over 10 years conducting behavioral and photo-identification research on harbor porpoises to learn more about their behavior, ecology, movement patterns and more. Did you know that individuals can remain resident to an area, that they sometimes eat salmon, or that they wake surf? Recently we have added the aerial perspective of a drone and are getting even greater insight into their foraging and social behavior. PacMam is one of the few organizations in the world conducting this type of long-term work on harbor porpoises, focusing on knowing the individuals. Come and dive into the secret lives of harbor porpoises in the Salish Sea, there is more to them than meets the eye!
Speakers
avatar for Cindy Elliser

Cindy Elliser

Pacific Mammal Research
Dr. Cindy R. Elliser is a marine mammalogist with over 25 years research experience. She received her B.S, M.S. and PhD in Biological Sciences and Integrative Biology from Florida Atlantic University (FAU). Before moving to the Pacific Northwest she spent 10 years working with Dr... Read More →
Friday September 11, 2026 4:00pm - 4:45pm PDT
Marine Science Stage

4:00pm PDT

40 Years on the Waterfront
Friday September 11, 2026 4:00pm - 5:00pm PDT

Speakers
avatar for Joni Blanchard

Joni Blanchard

Leatherwood Finishing Company
Joni Blanchard has been varnishing boats in and around Port Townsend for 37 years. She authored a varnishing book titled 'Tricks, Cheating & Chingaderos' - A Collection of Knowledge and TIps for Varnishing/Painting Wooden Boats.in 2010. Her book will be available at the workshop... Read More →
Friday September 11, 2026 4:00pm - 5:00pm PDT
Boatyard

5:00pm PDT

Pacifica—The story behind the classic 1947 Sparkman & Stephens Yawl
Friday September 11, 2026 5:00pm - 6:00pm PDT
Pacifica
The story behind the classic 1947 Sparkman & Stephens Yawl

In 1947, Avard Fuller, of the Fuller Brush family, had the 49-foot Sparkman and Stephens designed Eroica built in the Henry B. Nevins Boatyard, New York—she would later be renamed, Pacifica. Fuller and Stephens utilized what's considered one of the first extruded aluminum mast for a sailboat. This was just one in a series of breakthrough innovations found in Sparkman & Stephens yawls of the period that would change the course of yacht design.

The short film from nautical photographer Mark Albertazzi, relives the history behind Pacifica, her times on the East Coast, Mediterranean, and eventual move to the West Coast and its current home in Port Townsend, Washington. You’ll hear stories from those who have taken on the role of caretakers and their passion and perseverance to preserve one of the remaining classic yawls from the drawing boards of Olin and Rod Stephens.

Pacifica, is the third installment in a series of oral maritime history films by Albertazzi, with support from the Ancient Mariners Educational Fund, Ancient Mariners Sailing Society, and Maritime Museum of San Diego.
Speakers
avatar for Mark Albertazzi

Mark Albertazzi

Ancient Mariners Education Fund / Maritime Museum of San Diego
Mark Albertazzi, Photographer & Filmmaker

With his family roots deeply entrenched on the Hawaiian island of Molokai, Mark Albertazzi’s take on the world is informed by the sea. Across his 30+ years as an advertising agency Executive Creative Director, he crafted campaigns for BMW North America, Callaway Golf, and Sony... Read More →
Friday September 11, 2026 5:00pm - 6:00pm PDT
Adventure Stage
 
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