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Port Townsend Wooden Boat Festival 2026
Thursday, September 10
 

8:00am PDT

Paid Session: DIY Diesel Engine Maintenance
Thursday September 10, 2026 8:00am - 11:00am PDT
Technical Stage
*Additional ticket purchase required for this paid workshop. Purchase workshop tickets hereHow well do you really know your engine?For most boat owners, diesel engines are essential—but often a bit of a mystery. And when something goes wrong, that uncertainty can turn into stress quickly.Nigel Calder has spent decades helping boaters change that.In this workshop, Nigel starts with core...
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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 →
Thursday September 10, 2026 8:00am - 11:00am PDT
Technical Stage

12:00pm PDT

Paid Session: Fix It Yourself: Diesel Engine Troubleshooting
Thursday September 10, 2026 12:00pm - 3:00pm PDT
Technical Stage
*Additional ticket purchase required for this paid workshop. Purchase workshop tickets hereWhen your engine fails—especially far from help—what do you do?For many boaters, the answer is uncertainty. For those with the right knowledge, it’s often: figure it out and get moving again.Nigel Calder has spent decades helping boat owners do exactly that.In this workshop, Nigel breaks down how...
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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 →
Thursday September 10, 2026 12:00pm - 3:00pm PDT
Technical Stage
 
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
Technical Stage
*Additional ticket purchase required for this paid workshop. Purchase workshop tickets hereIf 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...
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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
Discovery Stage
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
Cruising Stage
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...
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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
Innovation Stage
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...
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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
Boatyard
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
Marine Science Stage
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....
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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
Boatyard
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
Marine Science Stage
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...
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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
Discovery Stage
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
Adventure Stage
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...
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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
Innovation Stage
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...
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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
Cruising Stage
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
Boatyard
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...
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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
Innovation Stage
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...
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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
Sail Stage
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
Marine Science Stage
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...
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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
Technical Stage
*Additional ticket purchase required for this paid workshop. Purchase workshop tickets hereWhen 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...
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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
Discovery Stage
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
Adventure Stage
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
Marine Science Stage
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,...
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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
Sail Stage
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...
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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
Innovation Stage
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
Cruising Stage
Moderated by Mark ShinerAllison 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,...
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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
Boatyard
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
Innovation Stage
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...
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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
Marine Science Stage
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
Sail Stage

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
Sail Stage
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...
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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
Sail Stage
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...
See More →
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
Discovery Stage
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...
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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
Adventure Stage
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...
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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
Innovation Stage
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,...
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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
Marine Science Stage
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...
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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
Boatyard
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
Cruising Stage
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...
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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
Adventure Stage
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
Discovery Stage
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...
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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
Marine Science Stage
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...
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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
Boatyard

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
Adventure Stage
PacificaThe 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...
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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
 
Saturday, September 12
 

9:30am PDT

Puget Sounds Golden age of Yachting through the Lens of photographer Ken Oiler
Saturday September 12, 2026 9:30am - 10:30am PDT
Cruising Stage
As 20th century designers and builders created our area’s maritime history, photographer Ken Ollar was there to record it. For over half a century, he sped through the Salish Sea aboard his motor vessel Shutterbug, capturing the action at Swiftsure, fleet and PIYA races, Opening Day celebrations, unlimited hydroplane races, and yacht club cruises. His collection of over 10,000 negatives, slides,...
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Speakers
avatar for Jan Hein

Jan Hein

Gig Harbor BoatShop NW Fleet Photo Collection
Jan Hein is a freelance writer/photographer and ocean sailor. Her work has appeared innumerous publications including Classic Boat, Wooden Boat, All At Sea, 48° North, andSail. She served as press reporter for Antigua’s Classic Regatta, and is a frequentphoto contributor for Northwest... Read More →
avatar for Richard Gray

Richard Gray

Gig Harbor BoatShop NW Fleet Photo Collection
Richard Gray is professor emeritus in the Department of Art, Art History & Design at the University of Notre Dame. He has exhibited his artwork in solo and group exhibitions nationally and internationally for forty-five years. Gray is also former chair of the National Board of Directors... Read More →
Saturday September 12, 2026 9:30am - 10:30am PDT
Cruising Stage

9:30am PDT

Sailboat Standing rigging 101
Saturday September 12, 2026 9:30am - 10:30am PDT
Technical Stage
Learn the basic parts and functions of your standing rig.  Understand how it is built and sized along with knowing the questions to ask when replacing it.
Speakers
avatar for Lisa Vizzini

Lisa Vizzini

Port Townsend Rigging, Inc
Lisa traces her interest in boats to a pond sailboat program at her elementary school in Westchester/Playa del Rey,California. She & her father finished and rigged a wood sloop which Lisa raced in a county-wide competition where she came away with a blue ribbon. That experience sparked... Read More →
Saturday September 12, 2026 9:30am - 10:30am PDT
Technical Stage

9:30am PDT

Traditional Navigation in the age of electronics, Compass and Sextant
Saturday September 12, 2026 9:30am - 10:30am PDT
Discovery Stage
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.
Speakers
BB

Bob Bergstrom

NW Compass Adjusting
Bob has been adventuring by boat for over 45 years in many parts of the world. Mostly in the pacific northwest and from Alaska to Central America. He is a retired firefighter/fireboat pilot, and former delivery boat skipper. He is also a licensed Coast Guard captain. Long ago he learned... Read More →
Saturday September 12, 2026 9:30am - 10:30am PDT
Discovery Stage

9:30am PDT

Viking Age voyages - transatlantic encounters before Columbus
Saturday September 12, 2026 9:30am - 10:30am PDT
Adventure Stage
Long before the famous voyages of the 15th century, Scandinavian sailors had established a reputation as intrepid navigators and explorers. These seafarers, which today we call Vikings, are most famous for their raids upon the churches and towns of western Europe, but this was only a small part of their adventures across the Atlantic Ocean. Recent research suggests a much wider extent of...
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Speakers
avatar for Greer Jarrett

Greer Jarrett

Lund University
Greer Jarrett (Bristol, UK, 1992) is an archaeologist specialised in Viking Age navigation and seafaring. His research focuses on reconstructing Viking Age sailing routes using a combination of experimental archaeology and digital analyses. For his PhD (published in 2025), he undertook... Read More →
Saturday September 12, 2026 9:30am - 10:30am PDT
Adventure Stage

10:00am PDT

Plug in boats - Planning the conversation
Saturday September 12, 2026 10:00am - 10:45am PDT
Innovation Stage
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...
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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 →
Saturday September 12, 2026 10:00am - 10:45am PDT
Innovation Stage

10:00am PDT

Sailing 1877 barque Elissa - A Square-Rigged Primer
Saturday September 12, 2026 10:00am - 10:45am PDT
Sail Stage
Master rigger and licensed captain Jamie White will give a presentation on “Sailing ELISSA – a Square Rig Primer.” He will speak about the dynamics of setting sail aboard and maneuvering the official tall ship of Texas, ELISSA, and how ships of the Age of Sail would have been similarly handled underway.  The 1877 Tall Ship ELISSA is a three-masted riveted iron-hulled barque based in...
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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 →
Saturday September 12, 2026 10:00am - 10:45am PDT
Sail Stage

10:00am PDT

Sharpening - Chisels and Planes
Saturday September 12, 2026 10:00am - 10:45am PDT
Boatyard
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.
Saturday September 12, 2026 10:00am - 10:45am PDT
Boatyard

10:00am PDT

What's in the Water? Live Plankton Collection Demonstration
Saturday September 12, 2026 10:00am - 10:45am PDT
Marine Science Stage
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....
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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 →
Saturday September 12, 2026 10:00am - 10:45am PDT
Marine Science Stage

11:00am PDT

Building a Marine First Aid Kit: Improvised Versus Commercial
Saturday September 12, 2026 11:00am - 11:45am PDT
Innovation Stage
Not all marine first aid kits are created equal. Case in point- take a look at a $50.00 "Offshore" kit. This lecture breaks down what belongs in a practical onboard medical kit — how to build them from scratch or customize a commercial kit. Learn how to match your kit to your cruising style, crew experience, and distance from help, with guidance on organization, essential supplies, and common...
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Speakers
avatar for John Taussig

John Taussig

Maritime Medical Guides
John Taussig is a paramedic, maritime educator, and Executive Director of Backcountry Medical Guides and its seafaring division, Maritime Medical Guides, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization focused on wilderness and marine medicine. With more than two decades of experience in prehospital... Read More →
Saturday September 12, 2026 11:00am - 11:45am PDT
Innovation Stage

11:00am PDT

Diving Into Kelp; the Forests of the Salish Sea
Saturday September 12, 2026 11:00am - 11:45am PDT
Marine Science Stage
The southern Salish Sea is rich with kelp, hosting a diversity of species that form magnificent forests along our shorelines. In and amongst these forests, you can find seals and sea lions, orcas, salmon, rockfish, forage fish, crabs, snails, nudibranchs, and countless other species. Since time immemorial, kelp forests in the Salish Sea have provided cultural, ecological, and economic value to...
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Speakers
avatar for Gray McKenna

Gray McKenna

Nearshore Habitat Program, Washington State Department of Natural Resources
Gray McKenna (they/them) is a marine ecologist, freediver, artist, and former tallship sailor. Gray has spent the last 6 years working on kelp forest research and recovery in Washington. As a scientist with Nearshore Habitat Program at the Washington State Department of Natural Resources... Read More →
Saturday September 12, 2026 11:00am - 11:45am PDT
Marine Science Stage

11:00am PDT

Sail trim and handling
Saturday September 12, 2026 11:00am - 11:45am PDT
Sail Stage
A detailed presentation on trimming your headsail and mainsail for a variety of conditions seen while cruising. Sailing terminology, the dynamics of light and heavy air sailing, primary and secondary trim tools, sail care, and the nuances of getting the most out of your sails will be covered.
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 →
Saturday September 12, 2026 11:00am - 11:45am PDT
Sail Stage

11:00am PDT

Schooner Adventuress' fiber topmast rig
Saturday September 12, 2026 11:00am - 11:45am PDT
Boatyard
Schooner Adventuress has topmasts again! In part due to our synthetic fiber topmast rig. The replacement of the galvanized wire with fiber removed approximately 180 lbs from her rig. This, in concert with the new hollow topmasts, has greatly improved her stability, and reclaimed her license to fly the tops'ls. Another precedent-setting standard with fiber rigging on inspected vessels.
Saturday September 12, 2026 11:00am - 11:45am PDT
Boatyard

11:00am PDT

Bluewater cruising Why Wait?
Saturday September 12, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm PDT
Discovery Stage
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.
Speakers
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 →
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 →
Saturday September 12, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm PDT
Discovery Stage

11:00am PDT

Catch a Rising Star! Celestial Noon Shot by Sextant
Saturday September 12, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm PDT
Technical Stage
Capt. Sanders of U.S. Maritime Academy will tackle and simplify the process of finding your latitude at noon by the use of Sextant. and the Sun. Following the presentation, he will conduct a real time noon shot (1pm local time) out on the wharf where participants will "find themselves" using provided sextant.
Speakers
avatar for Captain Jeff Sanders

Captain Jeff Sanders

U.S. Maritime Academy
Captain Jeffrey Sanders founded United States Maritime Academy in 1987 and has since trained over 5.000 thousand students for their Coast Guard Master Captain’s License. He was among the first instructors in the country certified to teach Coast Guard Approved License classes offering... Read More →
Saturday September 12, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm PDT
Technical Stage

11:00am PDT

Coast salish canoes & history of Tribal Journeys
Saturday September 12, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm PDT
Adventure Stage
From a wooden boat and waterborne perspective, Leslie will take her audience on a voyage of Native history, loss and into our recent tremendous renewal of Native Canoeing strength as communities gather and traveling on the local Salish Sea waters once again. From research in library and museum photo archives, early explorers journals and ethnographies; as well as from searching to find and then...
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Speakers
avatar for Leslie Lincoln

Leslie Lincoln

A lifetime maritime, Leslie Lincoln lived, worked, studied and voyaged her sailboat in support of a Native Canoe Renaissance. Recording oral histories with the elders, documenting fine lines of the representative cedar canoe forms of our bigger coast and as an escort vessel to Bella... Read More →
Saturday September 12, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm PDT
Adventure Stage

11:00am PDT

Docking for 2 people, 1 line, Any Conditions, Full Control
Saturday September 12, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm PDT
Cruising Stage
Docking with dynamic springlines has become a lost art - with tragic results in marinas all around the world, not the least in the Pacific Northwest. Captain Phyllis Woolwine is leading a charge to bring these powerful skills & strategies back. Owner of Shearwater University - Maritime Education, “Captain Wooly” specializes in training boaters of all types to use springlines for maximum safety...
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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 →
Saturday September 12, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm PDT
Cruising Stage

12:00pm PDT

Bringing Back the "Oly" Collaboratively Restoring the Native Olympia Oyster
Saturday September 12, 2026 12:00pm - 12:45pm PDT
Marine Science Stage
The west coast's only native oyster, the Olympia oyster, once formed large beds of millions of oysters in the Salish Sea. These populations crashed due to habitat loss, overharvest and water quality issues and are largely absent from their historic range. Today, these oysters are being back by tribes, non-profits, state agencies and Marine Resource Committees working together. I'll speak to our...
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Speakers
avatar for Neil Harrington

Neil Harrington

Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe
Neil Harrington is an Environmental Biologist with the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe. In his fourteen years with the Tribe his work has focused on harmful algal blooms, shellfish safety, native Olympia oyster restoration, invasive European green crabs, and outreach and education. Previous... Read More →
Saturday September 12, 2026 12:00pm - 12:45pm PDT
Marine Science Stage

12:00pm PDT

Buying and selling a boat - a how to conversation
Saturday September 12, 2026 12:00pm - 12:45pm PDT
Boatyard
Thinking about Buying or Selling a boat? We'll talk about the Buying and Selling Process, the Benefits of Working with a Yacht Broker, How to Prepare your Vessel for Sale and How to Buy the Right Boat for You!
Speakers
avatar for Rob Sanderson

Rob Sanderson

Port Townsend Boat Company
Rob Sanderson is a 100-ton USCG Captain, ASA and US Sailing Instructor and has lived in Port Townsend for over 20 years and worked in the maritime industry for over 30 years. In 2018 he started the Port Townsend Boat Company which is now one of the top rated Yacht Brokerages on the... Read More →
Saturday September 12, 2026 12:00pm - 12:45pm PDT
Boatyard

12:00pm PDT

Rigging for Hollywood
Saturday September 12, 2026 12:00pm - 12:45pm PDT
Sail Stage
How I ended up working for the film production business making traditional rigging, and how that rigging compares with the real thing! Anecdotes of some of the crazy sets and people involved!
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 →
Saturday September 12, 2026 12:00pm - 12:45pm PDT
Sail Stage

12:00pm PDT

The Joys and Challenges of owning a Wooden Boat
Saturday September 12, 2026 12:00pm - 12:45pm PDT
Innovation Stage
How might we best support and provide long-term stewardship to our wonderfully disparate wooden boats and the skills it takes to preserve and maintain them?  The Dolphin Swimming & Boating Foundation has a way with the renowned Dolphin wooden rowboat fleet that plies the San Francisco Bay waters daily; San Francisco Master Mariners  is an organization whose members are the boats,...
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Speakers
avatar for Diane Walton

Diane Walton

Dolphin Swimming & Boating Foundation
Diane Walton, President of the Dolphin Swimming & Boating Foundation, and Membership Director of the San Francisco Master Mariners,  keeps two wooden sailboats at the Berkeley Marina —  Gerda, a 25' Spitzgatter built in the late 30's by the grace of Auge Uzon, and a 38' Ingrid... Read More →
Saturday September 12, 2026 12:00pm - 12:45pm PDT
Innovation Stage

12:30pm PDT

Around the World in a Shoebox, what it's like to circumnavigate solo on a small home-made-boat
Saturday September 12, 2026 12:30pm - 1:30pm PDT
Adventure Stage
It would be a slideshow presentation featuring descriptions of the class event, what it was like to build the boat myself, launching and sailing across the Atlantic to Antigua, the event itself and what it took mentally and physically to complete a circumnavigation on such a small vessel, systems, design and outfitting, as well as anecdotes from the high seas, followed by Q&A
Speakers
avatar for Josh Kali

Josh Kali

Josh Kali Ocean Racing
Hello, I am Josh Kali of Josh Kali Ocean Racing. In March of 2025 I became the first American to sail solo around the world on a boat under 20ft, by completing the first ever Mcintyre Mini Globe Race. I built my boat ‘Skookum’ myself from plywood and timber finished in fiberglass... Read More →
Saturday September 12, 2026 12:30pm - 1:30pm PDT
Adventure Stage

12:30pm PDT

Chasing light on the water tips & tricks
Saturday September 12, 2026 12:30pm - 1:30pm PDT
Discovery Stage
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.
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 →
Saturday September 12, 2026 12:30pm - 1:30pm PDT
Discovery Stage

12:30pm PDT

Sailing through life
Saturday September 12, 2026 12:30pm - 1:30pm PDT
Technical Stage
Power point presentation exploring 60 years of boatbuilding, sailing
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 →
Saturday September 12, 2026 12:30pm - 1:30pm PDT
Technical Stage

12:30pm PDT

Yacht Designer Panel
Saturday September 12, 2026 12:30pm - 2:00pm PDT
Cruising Stage
Every boat begins as an idea.Join a conversation with yacht designers as they explore the balance between beauty, seaworthiness, performance, and practicality in designing boats for real people and real waters. From traditional wooden craft to modern interpretations, this panel offers insight into the thinking, creativity, and experience that shape the boats we admire — and the lives built...
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Speakers
avatar for Sam Devlin

Sam Devlin

Devlin Designing Boatbuilders
Sam Devlin has been in business as a boat designer and builder for 45 years and is widely regarded as one of the world's leading designers of Stitch-and-Glue boats. His design catalog includes more than 100 pleasure and commercial watercraft from a 6'6" dinghy to a 62' blue water... Read More →
avatar for John Harris

John Harris

Chesapeake Light Craft
John C. Harris designed and built his first boat, a rowing shell, at age 14. John is celebrating his 30th year at Chesapeake Light Craft. As CLC's owner he's designed some of the most popular wooden boats in the world, and shipped more than 50,000 build-your-own-boat kits. His interests... Read More →
Saturday September 12, 2026 12:30pm - 2:00pm PDT
Cruising Stage

1:00pm PDT

Bottom Paint Types with Comparative Analysis
Saturday September 12, 2026 1:00pm - 1:45pm PDT
Boatyard
Join a SEA Marine Bottom Paint Expert in an interactive Bottom Paint presentation, likely to include a boat-yard walk!  Presentation will include standard preparation with a review of types of bottom paint and comparative performance of each.
Speakers
avatar for SEA Marine

SEA Marine

SEA Marine
SEA Marine of Port Townsend, Washington is a full-service boatyard, providing recreational and working boat owners with a full spectrum of services for outfitting and maintaining motor and sailing vessels. Our dedicated staff handles a broad range of services including bottom paint... Read More →
Saturday September 12, 2026 1:00pm - 1:45pm PDT
Boatyard

1:00pm PDT

Designing a Solar Boat
Saturday September 12, 2026 1:00pm - 1:45pm PDT
Innovation Stage
A voyage through the process of designing a small long range micro-cruiser.
Speakers
avatar for Joe Grez

Joe Grez

PropEle Electric Boat Motors I

Saturday September 12, 2026 1:00pm - 1:45pm PDT
Innovation Stage

1:00pm PDT

Sail Survey and Repair
Saturday September 12, 2026 1:00pm - 1:45pm PDT
Sail Stage
Alison will demonstrate surveying cruising sails, what to look for, how to determine their working condition, and then give an overview of reinforcing said sails for offshore cruising. Sailing terminology, parts of the sail, sail making tools, and techniques will be covered.
Speakers
avatar for Alison Wood

Alison Wood

Port Townsend Sails
Alison grew up sailing the Intercoastal waterways of the Southeast. She was part of an all female crew to deliver an Irwin 43 from Key West to Annapolis for the famous Tanya Abei. She completed an apprenticeship with Brion Toss Yacht Riggers before joining the crew of Port Townsend... Read More →
Saturday September 12, 2026 1:00pm - 1:45pm PDT
Sail Stage

1:00pm PDT

Tsunamis in Washington: It Keeps Happening
Saturday September 12, 2026 1:00pm - 1:45pm PDT
Marine Science Stage
Three thousand years of tsunamis—hidden in the mud. Buried sand layers at Discovery Bay reveal when these waves struck, how big they were, and clues to where they came from. Understanding this history helps us prepare for the next tsunami in Washington.
Speakers
avatar for Dr. Carrie Garrison-Laney

Dr. Carrie Garrison-Laney

Washington Sea Grant
Dr. Carrie Garrison-Laney spends an unusual amount of time digging in mud and getting excited about sand in places it definitely shouldn’t be. She reads layers of sediment the way others read novels—except the plot involves catastrophic waves, coastal chaos, and the occasional... Read More →
Saturday September 12, 2026 1:00pm - 1:45pm PDT
Marine Science Stage

2:00pm PDT

Medicine at Sea — 5 Things Every Sailor Should Know
Saturday September 12, 2026 2:00pm - 2:45pm PDT
Innovation Stage
When emergencies happen on the water, simple principles often matter more than complicated techniques. This session focuses on five key concepts that improve outcomes during onboard medical situations, including patient assessment, early recognition of serious problems, stabilization, communication, and decision-making under pressure.
Speakers
avatar for John Taussig

John Taussig

Maritime Medical Guides
John Taussig is a paramedic, maritime educator, and Executive Director of Backcountry Medical Guides and its seafaring division, Maritime Medical Guides, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization focused on wilderness and marine medicine. With more than two decades of experience in prehospital... Read More →
Saturday September 12, 2026 2:00pm - 2:45pm PDT
Innovation Stage

2:00pm PDT

Science at the Leading Edge of the European Green Crab Invasion
Saturday September 12, 2026 2:00pm - 2:45pm PDT
Marine Science Stage
The early detection of European green crab in Washington has provided extremely rare opportunities that are not often available in the management of biological invasions. In addition to offering the best chance for effectively slowing the spread and impact of a worldwide invasive species, tracking the leading edge of green crab expansion has also presented a broad horizon for high-impact...
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Speakers
avatar for Emily Grason

Emily Grason

Washington Sea Grant
Emily Grason is a marine ecologist and Principal Arm Waver at Washington Sea Grant, in Seattle, WA. Since 2014, she has led Crab Team, a comprehensive program focused on supporting statewide efforts to manage the invasion of European green crab, one of the world’s most damaging... Read More →
Saturday September 12, 2026 2:00pm - 2:45pm PDT
Marine Science Stage

2:00pm PDT

In the wake of Vikings - Reconstructing seafaring routes through traditional practice
Saturday September 12, 2026 2:00pm - 3:00pm PDT
Adventure Stage
The Viking Age (800-1050 AD) was a period of maritime expansion and transformation, shaping the lives of coastal communities from the Caspian Sea to Newfoundland. Explorers, fisherfolk, raiders, traders, and settlers travelled incredible distances over some of the most dangerous seas on earth, often multiple times within individual lifetimes. Although archaeological, linguistic, and genetic...
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Speakers
avatar for Greer Jarrett

Greer Jarrett

Lund University
Greer Jarrett (Bristol, UK, 1992) is an archaeologist specialised in Viking Age navigation and seafaring. His research focuses on reconstructing Viking Age sailing routes using a combination of experimental archaeology and digital analyses. For his PhD (published in 2025), he undertook... Read More →
Saturday September 12, 2026 2:00pm - 3:00pm PDT
Adventure Stage

2:00pm PDT

Reefing in 5 min
Saturday September 12, 2026 2:00pm - 3:00pm PDT
Technical Stage
When your sailboat is struggling to stay on her feet and sail to weather efficiently do you wonder if you should have put in a reef?The solution is a quick and easy reefing process.This seminar demystifies common hurtles to reefing. If you can reef quickly you will be more inclined to reef early and often. Conversely shaking out the reef is a piece of cake
Speakers
avatar for Lisa Vizzini

Lisa Vizzini

Port Townsend Rigging, Inc
Lisa traces her interest in boats to a pond sailboat program at her elementary school in Westchester/Playa del Rey,California. She & her father finished and rigged a wood sloop which Lisa raced in a county-wide competition where she came away with a blue ribbon. That experience sparked... Read More →
Saturday September 12, 2026 2:00pm - 3:00pm PDT
Technical Stage

2:00pm PDT

The Way Boats Build Us: A Journey of Resilience and Finding Home
Saturday September 12, 2026 2:00pm - 3:00pm PDT
Discovery Stage
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...
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Speakers
avatar for Sandy Lam

Sandy Lam

Sandy is a Pacific Northwest sailor who continues to find inspiration and purpose on the water. As a first-generation Asian American, she has charted her own path, shaped by curiosity, resilience, and a willingness to say yes to the unknown. Though she didn’t discover sailing until... Read More →
Saturday September 12, 2026 2:00pm - 3:00pm PDT
Discovery Stage

2:00pm PDT

Varnishing tips and Tricks
Saturday September 12, 2026 2:00pm - 4:00pm PDT
Boatyard
I will be discussing products, tools, strategies and answering questions to help you learn how to apply your varnish and keep it maintained with efficiency and minimalize problems and intimidations about doing it.
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 →
Saturday September 12, 2026 2:00pm - 4:00pm PDT
Boatyard

2:30pm PDT

Spar Makers Panel
Saturday September 12, 2026 2:30pm - 4:00pm PDT
Cruising Stage
Moderated by Ernie Baird, Brad Seamans, Pete Stein, Daniel HawkinsWood spars are at the heart of traditional sailing craft — shaping the way a boat moves, balances, and feels at sea. But what exactly goes into designing and building a wooden mast or spar?Join a conversation with experienced spar makers as they explore the art, engineering, materials, and traditions behind these beautiful...
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Saturday September 12, 2026 2:30pm - 4:00pm PDT
Cruising Stage

3:00pm PDT

Exploring Life in Puget Sound's Hidden Depths
Saturday September 12, 2026 3:00pm - 3:45pm PDT
Marine Science Stage
Much of Puget Sound lies beyond the shallow waters we see from shore. Beneath the surface is a largely hidden world of complex reefs, soft sediments, and the fish and invertebrates that live there. This talk offers a look into these deeper waters through underwater video from remotely operated vehicle (ROV) surveys and insights from WDFW's long-term monitoring efforts. With a focus on fish...
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Speakers
avatar for Kathryn Meyer

Kathryn Meyer

Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
Kathryn Meyer is a senior research scientist with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, where she leads the Puget Sound Groundfish Program. Her work focuses on studying the marine fish communities of Puget Sound using tools like remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) and other... Read More →
Saturday September 12, 2026 3:00pm - 3:45pm PDT
Marine Science Stage

3:00pm PDT

How a marine surveyor inspects a wooden boat
Saturday September 12, 2026 3:00pm - 3:45pm PDT
Boatbuilding Stage
Hauling a wood boat and repair procedures - plank replacement, fasteners, caulking, repair and installing new framing both steam bent and sawn frames and correct diesel engine installation - using posters with hand -drawings from my book 'The Art Of Wooden Boat Repair-How To Save Wood Boats" in print for 41 years.
Speakers
avatar for Allen Taube

Allen Taube

Marine surveyor/shipwright
Architecture graduate from Rhode Island School of Design and MIT. Professional shipwright.
NAMS/GLOBAL Marine Surveyor for 30 years. A wooden schooner captain/sailor/owner for 50 years.  He wrote and illustrated "The Boatwright's Companion" and "The Art of Wooden Boat Repair-How to Save Wood Boats" which has been in continuous print for 41 years, as well as many features... Read More →
Saturday September 12, 2026 3:00pm - 3:45pm PDT
Boatbuilding Stage

3:00pm PDT

Copper-Free Bottom Paint: Regulations, Reality, and What’s Next
Saturday September 12, 2026 3:00pm - 4:00pm PDT
Innovation Stage
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...
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Speakers
avatar for David Atwater

David Atwater

AkzoNobel

Saturday September 12, 2026 3:00pm - 4:00pm PDT
Innovation Stage

3:30pm PDT

Haida Sails Resurgence Project
Saturday September 12, 2026 3:30pm - 5:30pm PDT
Adventure Stage
Sharing about the last year of learnings about woven sailmaking, the completion of the first sail and how it performed on the 33ft canoe. Sharing an update on the beginning process of the great voyaging canoe.
Speakers
avatar for Jaad Tl'aaw, Paula Varnell

Jaad Tl'aaw, Paula Varnell

Haida Sails Resurgence Project
Jaad Tl'aaw, Paula Varnell belongs to the G̱aw Git'ans Gitnee, Masset Inlet eagle clan, on Haida Gwaii – homeland to the Haida Nation, this archipelago is 90 nautical miles off the coast of British Columbia, and 27 nautical miles from traditional Haida territory along the coast... Read More →
avatar for K’ujuuhl, Evelyn Vanderhoop

K’ujuuhl, Evelyn Vanderhoop

Haida Sails Resurgence Project
Evelyn belongs to the G̱aw Gitanee clan of Old Massett. She is a master weaver specializing in Northern Northwest Coast textiles of Naaxiin (Chilkat) and Ravenstail weaving. A daughter of Ilskyalas Delores Churchill and granddaughter of Ilst’ayaa Selina Peratrovich, Evelyn continues a powerful lineage of Haida weavers dedicated to the revitalization and preservation of ancestral arts. Throughout her career, Evelyn has been committed to teaching Naaxiin and Ravenstail weaving, generously passing on her skills to future generations. She has... Read More →
avatar for Ḵayd Guudang, Jaalen Edenshaw

Ḵayd Guudang, Jaalen Edenshaw

Haida Sails Resurgence Project
Jaalen is a Haida artist from the Ḵayahl ‘Laanas Clan, renowned for his monumental red cedar carvings, design work, and dedication to cultural resurgence. Mentored by master carvers Guujaaw and James Hart, Jaalen developed a deep understanding of Haida formline and traditional... Read More →
Saturday September 12, 2026 3:30pm - 5:30pm PDT
Adventure Stage

3:30pm PDT

Intro to Memoir writing
Saturday September 12, 2026 3:30pm - 5:30pm PDT
Discovery Stage
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...
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Speakers
avatar for Beth Ann Mathews

Beth Ann Mathews

She Writes Press
Marine biologist Beth Ann Mathews is the author of the award-winning memoir Deep Waters: A Memoir of Loss, Alaska Adventure, and Love Rekindled (She Writes Press), a story of relationship and family resilience tested—and strengthened—through boating after her husband’s medical... Read More →
Saturday September 12, 2026 3:30pm - 5:30pm PDT
Discovery Stage

4:00pm PDT

Humpback Whales of the Salish Sea
Saturday September 12, 2026 4:00pm - 4:45pm PDT
Marine Science Stage
A century ago, humpback whales were nearly lost from the Salish Sea forever. Fortunately, decades of protection have resulted in a "humpback comeback", with hundreds of humpbacks now visiting the region each year. We'll take a deep dive into humpback whale behavior, diet, culture, and more. We'll also discuss how you can contribute as a community scientist, and ensure humpbacks never disappear...
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Speakers
avatar for Erin Gless

Erin Gless

Pacific Whale Watch Association
Erin Gless is the executive director for the Pacific Whale Watch Association, a community of ecotourism professionals dedicated to education, conservation, and responsible wildlife viewing in British Columbia and Washington state. She holds a BS in Biology with Marine Emphasis from... Read More →
Saturday September 12, 2026 4:00pm - 4:45pm PDT
Marine Science Stage

4:00pm PDT

Tips for a dry boat
Saturday September 12, 2026 4:00pm - 4:45pm PDT
Innovation Stage
The presentation will feature ideas on keeping your boat dry, as well as other tricks we have learned living aboard our boat. You will learn fun facts and easy logical ways to keep your boat clean and dry as well as other fun facts.
Speakers
CL

Chuck Laguna

AVD PLus/H2out
Chuck is the owner of AVD Plus/H2out. Chuck has been boating for years in the Pacific NW, and lived aboard "Hydrotherapy" for years. Living aboard gives you a totally different outlook on boating compared to the weekend boater.  

Chuck will share tips on keeping your boat dry, and other interesting tidbits he picked up living abord his boat.  Chuck will also share a video from Practical Sailor that shares 3 tips for a dry boat... Read More →
Saturday September 12, 2026 4:00pm - 4:45pm PDT
Innovation Stage

4:30pm PDT

Spars Rigging and Sails- working together
Saturday September 12, 2026 4:30pm - 6:00pm PDT
Cruising Stage
Moderated by Allison WoodsMegan Hudson, Mark Shiner, Chance Bates, Justin Lathrop, Ossian Smith, Bruce TiptonA sailing rig only works when every piece works together.Sails, rigging, and spars are deeply interconnected — each affecting how a boat performs, balances, handles, and endures at sea. It’s far more complex than simply ordering a sail or stepping a mast. Sail shape influences rig...
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Speakers
avatar for Alison Wood

Alison Wood

Port Townsend Sails
Alison grew up sailing the Intercoastal waterways of the Southeast. She was part of an all female crew to deliver an Irwin 43 from Key West to Annapolis for the famous Tanya Abei. She completed an apprenticeship with Brion Toss Yacht Riggers before joining the crew of Port Townsend... Read More →
Saturday September 12, 2026 4:30pm - 6:00pm PDT
Cruising Stage

6:00pm PDT

Pete Seeger Sing-Along
Saturday September 12, 2026 6:00pm - 8:00pm PDT
Adventure Stage
The Pete Seeger Sing-Along returns to the Festival for the 4th time. Pete was a wooden boat guy, so we decided the Wooden Boat Festival would be a good place to sing his timeless songs. Each year we fill the room with song and life, where every voice is welcome, lyrics are provided, and the spirit of Pete Seeger fills our souls. Songs are led by Tom Shindler and other Peninsula Musicians, but all...
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Speakers
avatar for Tom Shindler

Tom Shindler

The Pete Seeger Sing-Along returns to the Festival for the 4th time. Pete was a wooden boat guy, so we decided the Wooden Boat Festival would be a good place to sing his timeless songs. Each year we fill the room with song and life, where every voice is welcome, lyrics are provided... Read More →
Saturday September 12, 2026 6:00pm - 8:00pm PDT
Adventure Stage
 
Sunday, September 13
 

9:30am PDT

History of the 1890 Tugboat Elmore
Sunday September 13, 2026 9:30am - 10:30am PDT
Discovery Stage
R.P. Elmore is the oldest vessel of the remaining Puget Sound Mosquito fleet.Originally built as a freight and passenger vessel for the 1890s Port Townsend to Yukon gold rush. Maybe 1st diesel engine vessel in Puget Sound. After a 1922 fire and burning to the water line, she was then converted from a passenger vessel to a tugboat. She was active working Puget Sound tug, hauling barges, logs, and...
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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.
Sunday September 13, 2026 9:30am - 10:30am PDT
Discovery Stage

9:30am PDT

Maneuvering strategies in close quarters - Best Practices for Full Control
Sunday September 13, 2026 9:30am - 10:30am PDT
Adventure Stage
Captain Phyllis Woolwine, owner of Shearwater University - Maritime Education, will introduce powerful strategies for boat maneuvering - addressing boats of any size, in any conditions.  Most of the concepts will apply to all types of boats.  Specific strategies for controlling single engine vessels will be addressed, and if time, modifications for twin engines, outboards and...
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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 →
Sunday September 13, 2026 9:30am - 10:30am PDT
Adventure Stage

9:30am PDT

Marine Weather in the Digital Age
Sunday September 13, 2026 9:30am - 10:30am PDT
Technical Stage
The modern sailor is awash in weather data with just a couple clicks on a mobile device.  This presentation will demonstrate how to choose an appropriate weather model, analyze the digital data for your own onboard forecast for wind and seas, and identify where you must rely on traditional weather knowledge and skills.
Speakers
avatar for David Wilkinson

David Wilkinson

Starpath School of Navigation
Dave Wilkinson holds a BS in Math Education and a MS in Atmospheric Science. He is a member of the American Meteorological Society and the American Sailing Association where he is certified in marine weather and navigation. Dave is the Starpath School of Navigation instructor for... Read More →
Sunday September 13, 2026 9:30am - 10:30am PDT
Technical Stage

9:30am PDT

Sharpening - Chisels and Planes
Sunday September 13, 2026 9:30am - 10:30am PDT
Boatyard
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.
Sunday September 13, 2026 9:30am - 10:30am PDT
Boatyard

10:00am PDT

Copper Free Bottom Paint: Regulations, Reality and What's next
Sunday September 13, 2026 10:00am - 10:45am PDT
Innovation Stage
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...
See More →
Speakers
avatar for David Atwater

David Atwater

AkzoNobel

Sunday September 13, 2026 10:00am - 10:45am PDT
Innovation Stage

10:00am PDT

From Golden Hinde to Star of India development of the square rigged ship
Sunday September 13, 2026 10:00am - 10:45am PDT
Sail Stage
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...
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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 →
Sunday September 13, 2026 10:00am - 10:45am PDT
Sail Stage

10:00am PDT

What's in the Water? Live Plankton Collection Demonstration
Sunday September 13, 2026 10:00am - 10:45am PDT
Marine Science Stage
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....
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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 →
Sunday September 13, 2026 10:00am - 10:45am PDT
Marine Science Stage

11:00am PDT

How a marine surveyor inspects a wooden boat
Sunday September 13, 2026 11:00am - 11:45am PDT
Boatyard
Hauling a wood boat and repair procedures - plank replacement, fasteners, caulking, repair and installing new framing both steam bent and sawn frames and correct diesel engine installation - using posters with hand -drawings from my book 'The Art Of Wooden Boat Repair-How To Save Wood Boats" in print for 41 years.
Speakers
avatar for Allen Taube

Allen Taube

Marine surveyor/shipwright
Architecture graduate from Rhode Island School of Design and MIT. Professional shipwright.
NAMS/GLOBAL Marine Surveyor for 30 years. A wooden schooner captain/sailor/owner for 50 years.  He wrote and illustrated "The Boatwright's Companion" and "The Art of Wooden Boat Repair-How to Save Wood Boats" which has been in continuous print for 41 years, as well as many features... Read More →
Sunday September 13, 2026 11:00am - 11:45am PDT
Boatyard

11:00am PDT

Salish Sea Beaches- Our Glacial Legacy
Sunday September 13, 2026 11:00am - 11:45am PDT
Marine Science Stage
Most of the sand and pebble you see on the beaches of the Salish Sea traveled hundreds of miles on the underside of massive glaciers before coming to rest beneath your feet. Come travel back to the ice age to learn how the glaciers shaped our landscape, leaving behind massive piles of sediment. Fast forward to today and hear how that glacial legacy built our coastline. We'll explore bluff erosion...
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Speakers
avatar for Jon Waggoner

Jon Waggoner

Jefferson County MRC
Jon is a coastal engineer that has devoted his career to shoreline restoration and conservation throughout the Salish Sea since 2006. Coming out of Western Washington University with his head full of freshwater ecology he found himself working for a small coastal restoration firm... Read More →
Sunday September 13, 2026 11:00am - 11:45am PDT
Marine Science Stage

11:00am PDT

SURVEY, HAUL AND REPAIR OF WOODEN BOATS
Sunday September 13, 2026 11:00am - 11:45am PDT
Boatyard
How a marine surveyor inspects a wooden boat.
Hauling a wood boat and repair procedures - plank replacement, fasteners, caulking, repair and installing new framing both steam bent and sawn frames and correct diesel engine installation - using posters with hand -drawings from my book 'The Art Of Wooden Boat Repair-How To Save Wood Boats" in print for 41 years.
Speakers
avatar for Allen Taube

Allen Taube

Marine surveyor/shipwright
Architecture graduate from Rhode Island School of Design and MIT. Professional shipwright.
NAMS/GLOBAL Marine Surveyor for 30 years. A wooden schooner captain/sailor/owner for 50 years.  He wrote and illustrated "The Boatwright's Companion" and "The Art of Wooden Boat Repair-How to Save Wood Boats" which has been in continuous print for 41 years, as well as many features... Read More →
Sunday September 13, 2026 11:00am - 11:45am PDT
Boatyard

11:00am PDT

Telehealth & Prescription Medicine at Sea
Sunday September 13, 2026 11:00am - 11:45am PDT
Innovation Stage
Modern telehealth is changing how sailors access medical care while cruising — but preparation matters. This session explores how telemedicine works offshore, when prescription medications make sense aboard, and how to build a safe plan before leaving the dock. Topics include communication tools, common scenarios where remote medical support is helpful, and practical considerations for...
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Speakers
avatar for John Taussig

John Taussig

Maritime Medical Guides
John Taussig is a paramedic, maritime educator, and Executive Director of Backcountry Medical Guides and its seafaring division, Maritime Medical Guides, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization focused on wilderness and marine medicine. With more than two decades of experience in prehospital... Read More →
Sunday September 13, 2026 11:00am - 11:45am PDT
Innovation Stage

11:00am PDT

Chaos Coordination: A Twisted path to Adventure racing
Sunday September 13, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm PDT
Adventure Stage
Dreaming of doing an adventure race? Stuck in the rut of self-doubt? Don't be, come to this presentation and hear how to start adventuring by having an early midlife crisis and a daydream. Sharing lessons learned from running away on a Viking Ship a decade ago to coordinating multiple teams for the Kraken Cup in Tanzania. Then, the 2023 Race to Alaska, this presentation has tips and tricks for...
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Speakers
avatar for Heather Jankens

Heather Jankens

UnSalted Nuts
I am a long-time wooden boat enthusiast with a passion for small boats and bad ideas.  During the day, I am the Executive Director for the Maritime Heritage Alliance in Traverse City, MI.  A small non-profit that connects people to great lakes maritime history by getting out on... Read More →
Sunday September 13, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm PDT
Adventure Stage

11:00am PDT

How We Learned Sailmaking: A Brief History
Sunday September 13, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm PDT
Cruising Stage
Mark Shiner maybe owns a copy of every English language book about sail making published in the last 250 years. More importantly, he has read them, so you don’t have to! But when, and more importantly, why, did we start putting the art of sailmaking into print? How did the thousand-year tradition of apprenticeship training go head-to-head with “book learning”? Join Mark, an island...
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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 →
Sunday September 13, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm PDT
Cruising Stage

11:00am PDT

So You Want To Get your Captains License?
Sunday September 13, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm PDT
Technical Stage
Capt. Sanders of U.S. Maritime Academy will explain (and simplify) the entire USCG licensing process including the various avenues on how to accomplish it. You will come away with some clarity dealing with this often confusing and overwhelming endeavor. He's been doing this longer than anyone on the Planet! Q&A will follow
Speakers
avatar for Captain Jeff Sanders

Captain Jeff Sanders

U.S. Maritime Academy
Captain Jeffrey Sanders founded United States Maritime Academy in 1987 and has since trained over 5.000 thousand students for their Coast Guard Master Captain’s License. He was among the first instructors in the country certified to teach Coast Guard Approved License classes offering... Read More →
Sunday September 13, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm PDT
Technical Stage

11:00am PDT

The long history of the carousel
Sunday September 13, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm PDT
Discovery Stage
Carousels have been around for a couple thousand years. After the invention of the wheel the carousel also arrived for military and recreational uses. It traveled by caravan and boat from the Middle East to Europe to the Americas. My family was part of this story. There have always been riders available to keep this wheel turning but economies and politics have made it a challenging journey.
Sunday September 13, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm PDT
Discovery Stage

11:00am PDT

The resourceful sailor: Creative solutions to Boat Modifications and repairs
Sunday September 13, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm PDT
Discovery Stage
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 →
Sunday September 13, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm PDT
Discovery Stage

12:00pm PDT

Composting and Diversion Toilets
Sunday September 13, 2026 12:00pm - 12:45pm PDT
Innovation Stage
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,...
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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 →
Sunday September 13, 2026 12:00pm - 12:45pm PDT
Innovation Stage

12:00pm PDT

Outboard Maintenance Tech Talk
Sunday September 13, 2026 12:00pm - 12:45pm PDT
Boatyard
Westside Marine, located in Port Townsend, WA has been serving boating enthusiasts of Western Washington since 1984. Boaters count on Westside as their primary resource for boats, outboards, supporting gear, service and advice.   www.WestsideMarine.com
Sunday September 13, 2026 12:00pm - 12:45pm PDT
Boatyard

12:00pm PDT

Pacific Salmon 101: Lifecycle, Habitats, Threats, Significance
Sunday September 13, 2026 12:00pm - 12:45pm PDT
Marine Science Stage
Pacific Salmon 101 provides a comprehensive introduction to the biology, ecology, and importance of Pacific salmon, while highlighting the work of the North Olympic Salmon Coalition. It explores salmon as a keystone species, emphasizing their ecological role in nutrient cycling, cultural significance to Indigenous communities, and economic value across the Pacific Northwest. The presentation walks...
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Speakers
avatar for Sarah Doyle

Sarah Doyle

North Olympic Salmon Coalition
Sarah Doyle is the Executive Director of the North Olympic Salmon Coalition, where she has spent the past 17 years leading community-based efforts to restore salmon habitat and strengthen watershed health across Washington’s North Olympic Peninsula. She is known for building strong... Read More →
Sunday September 13, 2026 12:00pm - 12:45pm PDT
Marine Science Stage

12:30pm PDT

Around the World in a Shoebox, what it's like to circumnavigate solo on a small home-made-boat
Sunday September 13, 2026 12:30pm - 1:30pm PDT
Adventure Stage
It would be a slideshow presentation featuring descriptions of the class event, what it was like to build the boat myself, launching and sailing across the Atlantic to Antigua, the event itself and what it took mentally and physically to complete a circumnavigation on such a small vessel, systems, design and outfitting, as well as anecdotes from the high seas, followed by Q&A
Speakers
avatar for Josh Kali

Josh Kali

Josh Kali Ocean Racing
Hello, I am Josh Kali of Josh Kali Ocean Racing. In March of 2025 I became the first American to sail solo around the world on a boat under 20ft, by completing the first ever Mcintyre Mini Globe Race. I built my boat ‘Skookum’ myself from plywood and timber finished in fiberglass... Read More →
Sunday September 13, 2026 12:30pm - 1:30pm PDT
Adventure Stage

12:30pm PDT

Dream vs. Reality: Owning and Restoring a Classic Wooden Motor Yacht
Sunday September 13, 2026 12:30pm - 1:30pm PDT
Discovery Stage
Restoring a Classic: Your Dream: Romance, Fascination and Nostalgia of a Unique Classic YachtWhat to Look For and What to Look Out For:– Hand Craftsmanship, Quality Materials and Beautiful Lines– Value: Collectability, Rare, Name Recognition, Reputation, Previous Ownership– Harsh Realities: Maritime Rules and Legalities– The Value of a Good Survey– Restoration Process: The Good the Bad,...
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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
Sunday September 13, 2026 12:30pm - 1:30pm PDT
Discovery Stage

12:30pm PDT

Ghosts in the cabin: 80 Years Of Peter Duck
Sunday September 13, 2026 12:30pm - 1:30pm PDT
Cruising Stage
If you own a boat which was owned by a famous writer, if your father and mother owned her before you, if her other significant owners did adventurous voyages of a type you'll never even dream of, how do you cope with the feeling of inadequacy? Put it another way, how do you manage to care for the boat and have fun on your own terms, without feeling like an undeserving imposter? They are the ghosts...
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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 →
Sunday September 13, 2026 12:30pm - 1:30pm PDT
Cruising Stage

12:30pm PDT

Saveiros de Vela on the Bay of All Saints: Preservation and Revival in Brazil
Sunday September 13, 2026 12:30pm - 1:30pm PDT
Technical Stage
The Bay of All Saints (Recôncavo Baiano, Brazil) holds one of the most distinctive maritime traditions in the Americas: the saveiros de vela (cargo sailing vessels). For centuries, these boats connected communities, transported goods, sustained local cultures, and became an emblem of the region. But due to infrastructure development, declining economic opportunities, and lack of cultural...
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Sunday September 13, 2026 12:30pm - 1:30pm PDT
Technical Stage

1:00pm PDT

More Ocean is Good Right? A Primer on Sea Level Rise for Maritime Washington
Sunday September 13, 2026 1:00pm - 1:45pm PDT
Marine Science Stage
This presentation will cover the evidence for observed sea level change in Washington State over the last 100 years, the impact it has had on coastal Washington, and what is possible in the future. There will be an emphasis on how sea level rise impacts may play out in particular on maritime uses in coastal Washington, and the planning that is currently happening to try to ensure a thriving...
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Speakers
avatar for Ian Miller

Ian Miller

Washington Sea Grant
A skilled science communicator and media spokesperson as well as a trained scientist, Dr. Ian Miller is Washington Sea Grant’s coastal hazards specialist, working out of Peninsula College in Port Angeles. Ian works with coastal communities and public agencies in Washington State to strengthen their ability to plan for and manage coastal hazards, including tsunamis, chronic erosion, coastal flooding and other hazards associated with climate change. He brings a suite... Read More →
Sunday September 13, 2026 1:00pm - 1:45pm PDT
Marine Science Stage

1:00pm PDT

Tips for a dry boat
Sunday September 13, 2026 1:00pm - 1:45pm PDT
Innovation Stage
The presentation will feature ideas on keeping your boat dry, as well as other tricks we have learned living aboard our boat. You will learn fun facts and easy logical ways to keep your boat clean and dry as well as other fun facts.
Speakers
CL

Chuck Laguna

AVD PLus/H2out
Chuck is the owner of AVD Plus/H2out. Chuck has been boating for years in the Pacific NW, and lived aboard "Hydrotherapy" for years. Living aboard gives you a totally different outlook on boating compared to the weekend boater.  

Chuck will share tips on keeping your boat dry, and other interesting tidbits he picked up living abord his boat.  Chuck will also share a video from Practical Sailor that shares 3 tips for a dry boat... Read More →
Sunday September 13, 2026 1:00pm - 1:45pm PDT
Innovation Stage

1:30pm PDT

From John Barrymore to Lithium Power: Refitting the Historic Thea Foss
Sunday September 13, 2026 1:30pm - 2:30pm PDT
Discovery Stage
Launched in 1930 as a luxury yacht for Hollywood icon John Barrymore, serving as a patrol vessel in WWII, and eventually becoming the world-famous flagship for the Northwest's most iconic towing family, the 120-foot Thea Foss is a living monument to Pacific Northwest maritime history. Keeping a 96-year-old classic viable and efficient requires a careful balance between preserving her heritage and...
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Speakers
avatar for Justin Hullinger

Justin Hullinger

Hullux Marine Electrical
Justin has spent over 15 years specializing in marine electrical systems on vessels of all sizes. His career has taken him from the shipyards of Singapore to the docks of Shilshole Bay, ultimately leading him to found Hullux Marine Electrical, which proudly serves the Seattle maritime... Read More →
Sunday September 13, 2026 1:30pm - 2:30pm PDT
Discovery Stage

2:00pm PDT

Whale Neighbors of the Salish Sea
Sunday September 13, 2026 2:00pm - 2:45pm PDT
Marine Science Stage

Sunday September 13, 2026 2:00pm - 2:45pm PDT
Marine Science Stage
 

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Thursday, September 10
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Adventure Stage
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Boatyard
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