Port Townsend Wooden Boat Festival 2026

Getting the most out of your compass; repairing and adjusting; integrating with GPS, Chartplotter and Radar for safe and fun boating.Demystifying the Sextant and reasons why it still matters.

Many sailors dream of casting off and leaving behind the things that keep them bound to familiar moorings.  Only a small percentage of those who dream actually get to do it.  Philip & Leslie recount the story of making their dream cruise happen, what they learned, special places visited, and who they met along the way.

Jeff Eichen has spent decades photographing wooden boats on Puget Sound. In this workshop, he'll show you how to work with natural light on the water, compose for motion and mood, and capture the craftsmanship that makes these boats extraordinary and the digital darkroom as well. All skill levels welcome. enjoy Jeff's Photography Tips and Tricks.

Embark on a personal journey exploring the how spirit of courage and endurance is passed down through generations of women. This presentation follows an immigrant family shaped by the sea, illustrating how the strength and determination of women on the water continue to ripple forward. From a rural village river in Vietnam to the icy waters of the Northwest Passage, this is a story of searching for home and how resilience, heritage, and the ocean itself can transform a family’s legacy.

Join marine mammal biologist, boater, and author Beth Ann Mathews for a dynamic presentation on turning life at sea into compelling personal stories. We all know how even the best laid plans for long-term expeditions at sea can lead to exciting adventures, formative challenges, and personal revelations and reckonings worth sharing. Beth draws on her journey from associate professor of biology at the University of Alaska in Juneau and field research biologist in Glacier Bay, Alaska—teaching, publishing scientific papers, being a mother, and sailing with her husband for three decades—to writing Deep Waters, her award-winning memoir with over 200 reviews.
Her upcoming memoir (2027) has been described as a “candid reckoning with choices the author never imagined she would make—one that resonates with readers who value honesty, vulnerability, and the search for meaning when life diverges from our ideals, while also exploring how we build lasting human connections.”
Beth’s presentation will explore how to capture and revitalize memories, tap the power of vulnerability in storytelling, and offer practical tips for getting started. Attendees will receive a resource list for taking their work to the next level, along with guidance on creating or finding a memoir-writing critique group.This session is for boaters who want to write personal stories for family and friends—or for publication.