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Friday, September 11
 

9:30am PDT

Tides and Currents for Sea Kayakers
Friday September 11, 2026 9:30am - 10:15am PDT
Adventure Stage
"The Secrets of Tides and Currents", planning and navigating through Northwest waters. Powerpoint presentation followed by breakout groups, trip planning.

Planning a trip in the Northwest or any area that has extreme tides and currents can be difficult. Learn more about tides and currents and how to apply a system so you successfully use them to your advantage instead of the other way around.

Learn how to determine tides and currents and how to plan accordingly. Examples will be taken from Deception Pass and the San Juan Islands.

Some knowledge of chart reading can come in handy.
Speakers
avatar for Andree Hurley

Andree Hurley

WASHINGTON WATER TRAILS ASSOCIATION
Andrée Hurley, Executive Director, Washington Water Trails
Andrée has taught sea kayaking since 1985, and has led or been on kayaking trips in various countries such as Baja, Mexico, Belize, Chile, Bolivia and Hong Kong. She retired as an L4 sea kayak instructor trainer educator with the American Canoe Association after fifteen years. She w... Read More →
Friday September 11, 2026 9:30am - 10:15am PDT
Adventure Stage
  Presentation

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
  Presentation

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 because people choose to carry them forward.
This session explores how different roles — ownership, craftsmanship, seamanship, operations, and education — intersect in sustaining wooden boats. Each panelist represents a distinct path, yet all share responsibility for continuity.The conversation centers on:• Why individuals choose to commit to wooden boats• How responsibility shapes that commitment• What continuity requires from each role• How these paths overlap in real life
The goal is not technical instruction, but reflection. Wooden boats are more than vessels. They are places where people learn patience, care, accountability, and stewardship.
This session invites the audience to see wooden boats not as isolated projects, but as living ecosystems sustained by interconnected choices.
Why This Fits the FestivalThe Festival celebrates craftsmanship, tradition, and community. This conversation highlights the human dimension behind that celebration.Rather than focusing on tools, techniques, or restoration specifics, this session examines:• The values that sustain wooden boat culture• The shared responsibility between builders, owners, operators, and educators• The lived experience behind preservationIt speaks to current owners, aspiring stewards, and younger generations entering the field.
Intended ToneConversational, thoughtful, accessible.Honest about challenges.Grounded in lived experience.
This is not a lecture. It is a guided conversation designed to invite the audience into the deeper story of continuity.
Speakers
avatar for Leroy Lewis

Leroy Lewis

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

10:00am PDT

Pattern Making, Spiling and Glue Tabbing
Friday September 11, 2026 10:00am - 10:45am PDT
Boatbuilding Stage
During this demonstration we will work through the steps typically taken to pattern planks for traditional wooden boats. During each step, attendees will get a glimpse of the complexity involved in shaping rough sawn lumber into compound curved planking.


Speakers
avatar for Tucker Piontek

Tucker Piontek

Northwest School of Wooden Boatbuilding
Tucker’s relationship with boats started young with canoes and fishing boats on the rivers of Oregon and lakes of Wisconsin. That relationship quickly transferred into racing modern sailboats on the Columbia river and ocean races along the Pacific Northwest and Canadian coastlines... Read More →
Friday September 11, 2026 10:00am - 10:45am PDT
Boatbuilding Stage
  Presentation

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 yourself.  The main topics are:Power and Energy NeedsSpace Needed Voltage, BatteriesMotors  and Motor ControllersSwitches and MonitoringRecharging
Speakers
avatar for Thomas Hruby

Thomas Hruby

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

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
  Presentation

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.  Different species of zooplankton can either stay small or can undergo a series of changes to become the larger animals we are more familiar with (including fish, mussels, crabs, worms, and barnacles to name just a few).  Come and prepare samples of live freshly collected plankton and observe these beautiful organisms on our microscopes.  Experts in plankton identification will be available to talk to you about what you see as you are looking at the samples!
Speakers
avatar for Lee Bebout

Lee Bebout

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

Brad Bebout

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

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
  Presentation

11:00am PDT

Fire Extinguishing Systems on Boats
Friday September 11, 2026 11:00am - 11:45am PDT
Boatbuilding Stage
Fire on a boat is one of the biggest risks owners manage. Fire extinguishing equipment and technology is evolving - learn about the different types of extinguishers and extinguishing systems, and what is best for your boat. Taught by Evan Bailly, Lead Marine Systems Instructor at the Boat School.
Speakers
avatar for Evan Bailly

Evan Bailly

Northwest School of Wooden Boatbuilding
Evan is a Seattle native who joined the army as a helicopter mechanic right out of high school. During his tenure in the military, Evan started sailing any time leave would allow, and worked off and on as an engineer and deckhand on Gray’s Harbor Historical Seaport’s tall ships... Read More →
Friday September 11, 2026 11:00am - 11:45am PDT
Boatbuilding Stage
  Presentation

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 knowing where, when, and why you should, or shouldn’t, eat shellfish.
Speakers
avatar for Tracie Barry

Tracie Barry

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

11:00am PDT

Traditional Sailmaking Demo
Friday September 11, 2026 11:00am - 11:45am PDT
Sail Stage

Speakers
avatar for Alan Prichard
Friday September 11, 2026 11:00am - 11:45am PDT
Sail Stage
  Presentation

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
  Presentation

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 Passage, and 11 years providing custom training for hundreds of boaters of all types in these waters, she will provide a highly practical, science based, and interactive seminar on Pacific Northwest Marine Weather.  This topic is presented in a conceptual, non-technical manner that all boaters can understand and apply.
- What makes PNW marine weather so complex - and how can we make sense of it?
- Strategies to ensure that sailors get wind, powerboaters avoid dangerous seas, and all boaters use knowledge & strategies to stay safe, advantaging our crazy conditions.
  - Best sources & apps for marine weather - and the best ways to use them
Speakers
avatar for Phyllis Woolwine

Phyllis Woolwine

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

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 these vessels function as both technological achievements and cultural symbols. Drawing on archival research, oral histories, and field documentation of regattas throughout the archipelago, the talk highlights the builders and sailors who sustain this tradition and the communities that gather around it. Particular attention is given to the role of wooden boats in national regattas and island competitions, where rivalries, local pride, and generational knowledge intersect on the water. The presentation situates Bahamian sloop sailing within broader discussions of maritime heritage, demonstrating how wooden boats continue to carry cultural memory and identity across generations.
Speakers
MP

Michael Pateman

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

11:00am PDT

Riggers Panel: 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

Panelists: Jamie White, Chance Bates, Lola Morgan, Danielle Southcott, Tanith Anhaiser, Odin Smith
Friday September 11, 2026 11:00am - 12:30pm PDT
Cruising Stage
  Presentation

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 encourage creative flow and inquiry. We’ll provide Art Toolkit travel palettes and brushes to try out, and all levels are welcome! Bonus: show off your Festival wristband at the Art Toolkit shop on 1003 Water Street for a 10% discount!
Speakers
avatar for Maria Coryell-Martin

Maria Coryell-Martin

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

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 meant that only two of his 112 men died, none from scurvy. The ship carried an artist, William Hodges, where his iceberg drawings will be compared with our photographs. Although the Resolution came within 100 km of Antarctica and crossed the Antarctic circle three times, it did not find land. In its furthest south, it was the first ship to reach Pine Island Bay, which was filled with massive icebergs and is now known to contain the outflow of the critical Thwaites Glacier. Comparison of Cook’s 250-year-old observations of iceberg and sea ice with ours shows that although there is less sea ice now, the iceberg distributions are about the same.
Speakers
avatar for Seelye Martin

Seelye Martin

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

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
  Presentation

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 by beginning with a review of available information on their sinking.   This is followed by the use of various types of sonar and software to identify potential targets to investigate.  Describing these techniques is the topic of this presentation.
Speakers
avatar for Christopher Kelley

Christopher Kelley

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

12:00pm PDT

Steam Bending
Friday September 11, 2026 12:00pm - 12:45pm PDT
Boatbuilding Stage
Steam bending involves exposing wood to heat and moisture from steam, which softens the lignin and cellulose fibers, making the wood pliable. Once bent around a form or jig and allowed to cool, the wood retains its new shape. This method has been used in boat building for centuries and is still used today.
Speakers
avatar for Orrin Webb

Orrin Webb

Northwest School of Wooden Boatbuilding
Orrin’s path to boatbuilding was shaped by a lifelong passion for working with his hands. Before finding wooden boats, he built custom homes, worked with timber framing, cabinetry, and furniture, and honed his skills in high-end residential construction and finish carpentry, all... Read More →
Friday September 11, 2026 12:00pm - 12:45pm PDT
Boatbuilding Stage
  Presentation

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
  Presentation

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
  Presentation

1:00pm PDT

Fiberglassing Techniques
Friday September 11, 2026 1:00pm - 1:45pm PDT
Boatbuilding Stage
Learn the basics of fiberglass laminating techniques. Presentation and demo.
Speakers
avatar for Bruce Blatchley

Bruce Blatchley

Northwest School of Wooden Boatbuilding
Bruce has been teaching at the boat school since really late in the last century. He has been other places and done other things as well. As a life long learner he realizes that the old adage: "the more I learn, the less I know" is apropos. Plus, crafting sentences that flow and/or... Read More →
Friday September 11, 2026 1:00pm - 1:45pm PDT
Boatbuilding Stage
  Presentation

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, to protect Subaquatic Vegetation and shellfish beds in 3 areas in Jefferson County.


Speakers
avatar for Gordon King

Gordon King

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

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 towering clouds of canvas of the Clippers, and ultimately the iron and steel windjammers that represented the pinnacle of square-rig efficiency. Along the way, we examine how advances in naval architecture, metallurgy, and seamanship allowed square-rigged vessels to grow larger, faster, and more specialized—culminating in the powerful deep-water sailing ships like MOSHULU that closed the age of commercial sail.
This presentation traces that development across three centuries, exploring how changing trade routes, naval warfare, materials, and shipyard innovation shaped hull design, rigging complexity, and sail plans.
Speakers
avatar for Jamie White

Jamie White

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

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
  Presentation

1:00pm PDT

Sailmakers panel
Friday September 11, 2026 1:00pm - 2:30pm PDT
Cruising Stage
Moderated by Mark Shiner
Panelists: Allison Wood, PT Sails;  Emiliano Marino, The Artful Sailor and author of The Saiilmakers Apprentice;  Carol Hasse, Founder PT Sails; Wayne Chimenti, Force 10 Sails, Nahja Chimenti, Force 10 Sails.

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

Mark Shiner

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

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
  Presentation

2:00pm PDT

Care and Feeding of the Jointer
Friday September 11, 2026 2:00pm - 2:45pm PDT
Boatbuilding Stage
How to tune up and use your jointer safely and effectively.
Speakers
SE

Seb Eggert

Rain Shadow Woodworks
In 1977 Sebastian Eggert rowed a lapstrake launch built by Peter Lentini of Olympia at the first
Wooden Boat Festival. He is the owner of Rain Shadow Woodworks, a general contracting,
woodworking and millwork business that employs ten people. He has crewed on the Hudson
River Sloop... Read More →
Friday September 11, 2026 2:00pm - 2:45pm PDT
Boatbuilding Stage
  Presentation

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 marine fouling.
Speakers
avatar for David Atwater

David Atwater

AkzoNobel

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

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
  Presentation

2:00pm PDT

Rigging the Dublin 21's 7 Sisters, and How They Changed My Life
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 story.
Speakers
avatar for Sue Pennison

Sue Pennison

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

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 required for a variety of projects to be sure you have them available when you leave the dock.
Speakers
avatar for Philip DiNuovo

Philip DiNuovo

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

Leslie Linkkila

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

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 were the pioneers whose spirit of independence led the way for others. Some names you will have heard of but too many were invisible or forgotten.  We can change that.
Speakers
avatar for Julia Jones

Julia Jones

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

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, reliability, and real-world use.
Speakers
GT

Geoffrey Trott

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

3:00pm PDT

Port Townsend Foundry
Friday September 11, 2026 3:00pm - 3:45pm PDT
Boatbuilding Stage

Friday September 11, 2026 3:00pm - 3:45pm PDT
Boatbuilding Stage
  Presentation

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
  Presentation

3:00pm PDT

The Seabirds of Port Townsend, Where the Strait Meets the Sound
Friday September 11, 2026 3:00pm - 3:45pm PDT
Marine Science Stage

Speakers
avatar for Steve Hampton

Steve Hampton

Rainshadow Bird Alliance
Steve Hampton has been seeing the world through birds since he was seven years old. With a PhD in natural resource economics, he worked for the California Department of Fish & Wildlife for 25 years, where he was involved in oil spill response, seabird restoration, and coordination... Read More →
Friday September 11, 2026 3:00pm - 3:45pm PDT
Marine Science Stage
  Presentation

3:00pm PDT

Traditional Sailmaking Demo
Friday September 11, 2026 3:00pm - 3:45pm PDT
Sail Stage

Speakers
avatar for Alan Prichard
Friday September 11, 2026 3:00pm - 3:45pm PDT
Sail Stage
  Presentation

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 seaHow to encourage your partner to share your dream?Creating an unstoppable boat.
Speakers
avatar for Lin Pardey

Lin Pardey

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

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
  Presentation

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 navigation instruments, accurate charts, and manned by men who understood neither.
Speakers
SP

Stewart Pugh

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

4:00pm PDT

Hands on - Great Tug 'o Peace Hammock Pull
Friday September 11, 2026 4:00pm - 4:45pm PDT
Sail Stage

Friday September 11, 2026 4:00pm - 4:45pm PDT
Sail Stage
  Presentation

4:00pm PDT

The Secret Lives of Harbor Porpoises
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 remain resident to an area, that they sometimes eat salmon, or that they wake surf? Recently we have added the aerial perspective of a drone and are getting even greater insight into their foraging and social behavior. PacMam is one of the few organizations in the world conducting this type of long-term work on harbor porpoises, focusing on knowing the individuals. Come and dive into the secret lives of harbor porpoises in the Salish Sea, there is more to them than meets the eye!
Speakers
avatar for Cindy Elliser

Cindy Elliser

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

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 40years. 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.
Friday September 11, 2026 4:00pm - 5:00pm PDT
Boatyard
  Presentation
 
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, prints and ephemeral, is now part of the Gig Harbor BoatShop’s Northwest Fleet Photography Collection. Using archival protocol, a team of volunteers are digitizing images for a publicly accessible database. As the body of work grows online, the historical importance of it becomes more apparent. Ken Ollar’s stunning work is filling our maritime past with narratives and details never heard before. We will share gems and highlights with you through projected images and stories.
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
  Presentation

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
LV

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
  Presentation

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
  Presentation

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 exploration and settlement than previously thought, with intriguing new evidence appearing across a vast expanse of the northern hemisphere. In this talk I will introduce some of the lesser known aspects of the Viking Age, including their key contributions to maritime technologies, and discuss some ongoing mysteries regarding potential Viking presence in the high Arctic, Spain, and the Azores.
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
  Presentation

10:00am PDT

Chopping a Rabbet
Saturday September 12, 2026 10:00am - 10:45am PDT
Boatbuilding Stage
Explanation and demo of chopping the rabbet for traditionally planked boats.
Speakers
avatar for Tucker Piontek

Tucker Piontek

Northwest School of Wooden Boatbuilding
Tucker’s relationship with boats started young with canoes and fishing boats on the rivers of Oregon and lakes of Wisconsin. That relationship quickly transferred into racing modern sailboats on the Columbia river and ocean races along the Pacific Northwest and Canadian coastlines... Read More →
Saturday September 12, 2026 10:00am - 10:45am PDT
Boatbuilding Stage
  Presentation
  • about <br>

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 yourself.  The main topics are:Power and Energy NeedsSpace Needed Voltage, BatteriesMotors  and Motor ControllersSwitches and MonitoringRecharging
Speakers
avatar for Thomas Hruby

Thomas Hruby

Tom is a retired aquatic ecologist and a hobby boat builder who has built 20 boats ranging from Rob Roy canoes to the St. Pierre Dory. I built my first electric dory 30 years ago at a time when the only technology available was golf cart batteries and fork lift motors.  I also converted... Read More →
Saturday September 12, 2026 10:00am - 10:45am PDT
Innovation Stage
  Presentation

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 Galveston, Texas, and is one of only three such vessels in the world that still actively sails. As a barque, her rig features square-rigged sails on the fore and main masts, while the mizzen mast is fore-and-aft rigged.
Having worked in the traditional rigging and square-rig sail training industries since the early 1980s, Jamie has built an extensive knowledge and understanding of traditional sailing ships and their operational and restoration/maintenance and sail training requirements. Jamie sailed over 30,000 miles as bosun, mate, or master on many square-rigged & traditional vessels. Before he sailed aboard traditional boats and tall ships, he taught sailing aboard modern sailboats at one of the largest charter companies in Southern California.
If you have ever wondered how much more different and difficult tacking a square-rigger is than a modern sloop – this presentation should be of interest to you.
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
  Presentation

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
  Presentation

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.  Different species of zooplankton can either stay small or can undergo a series of changes to become the larger animals we are more familiar with (including fish, mussels, crabs, worms, and barnacles to name just a few).  Come and prepare samples of live freshly collected plankton and observe these beautiful organisms on our microscopes.  Experts in plankton identification will be available to talk to you about what you see as you are looking at the samples!
Speakers
avatar for Lee Bebout

Lee Bebout

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

Brad Bebout

Brad and co-presenter Lee Bebout met while studying harmful algal blooms on the Neuse River in North Carolina.  After short postdoctoral stays at the Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology in Bremen, Germany, and at the University of Maryland’s Horn Point Lab, they both went... Read More →
Saturday September 12, 2026 10:00am - 10:45am PDT
Marine Science Stage
  Presentation

11:00am PDT

Boat Electrical Components Demo
Saturday September 12, 2026 11:00am - 11:45am PDT
Boatbuilding Stage

Saturday September 12, 2026 11:00am - 11:45am PDT
Boatbuilding Stage
  Presentation

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 human communities. But our kelp forests are declining, with some areas of Puget Sound experiencing near total losses. Thankfully, there are collaborative efforts underway to conserve and restore these vital ecosystems. In this talk, we’ll introduce you to Salish Sea kelp forests, the changes that we’re observing, the efforts underway to save and restore the forests, and how you can get involved.
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
  Presentation

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
  Presentation

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.
Speakers
avatar for Blaise Holly

Blaise Holly

Owner, Haven Boat Works
Blaise leads a skilled group of 35 people in repairing and restoring historic vessels- like the iconic 120-foot Adventuress, the flawless 96-foot Geary fantail yacht Blue Peter, and the award-winning MV Comrade. The efforts of his crew ensure Haven remains a cornerstone of the Port Townsend maritime community... Read More →
avatar for Ian Weedman

Ian Weedman

Brion Toss Yacht Riggers
Ian Weedman succeeds the late Brion Toss at the helm of the 43-year-old shop in Point Hudson. He has been rigging classic and contemporary sailboats for over 20 years.


Saturday September 12, 2026 11:00am - 11:45am PDT
Boatyard
  Presentation

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
  Presentation

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
  Presentation

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 make lines drawings from older representative canoes; right into recording Native Elders' own stories and hearing of community needs; she will share how communities found old growth, learned to carve and steam the great cedar into transformed canoes as the old masters knew how to do.  She'll present the excitement of "Bringing them canoes back" during the first PADDLE TO SEATTLE in 1989; and then a remarkable challenge for a 500 mile canoe pilgrimage ~ pulling all the waty up to Bella Bella, Canada.  And then land this presentation, by moving it forward to the rich gatherings of more than 100 canoes and six thousand Native folks now as the Tribal Journeys have matured.
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
  Presentation

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 and boat control while leaving and returning to the dock - every time, in any conditions, with just two people. This seminar provides an overview on the physics of the core springline strategy we apply on all boats, every time, no matter the boat type or scenario.
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
  Presentation

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 experience and success using several strategies to restore native oyster beds on the northeast Olympic Peninsula and in the larger Salish Sea.
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
  Presentation

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
  Presentation

12:00pm PDT

Peel & Stick Carbon or Fiberglass
Saturday September 12, 2026 12:00pm - 12:45pm PDT
Boatbuilding Stage
Turn dry fabric into a peel and stick epoxy laminate that can be cut to precise shapes and brought to the project. Most necessary for carbon fiber as it will not wet out and go clear like fiberglass though the process works for most fabrics. Less air less weight less mess. For large tapping or tabbing jobs one person can feed several other laminators increasing productivity. Simple tools and materials make this technique a great choice for professional and DIY builders.
Speakers
avatar for Korey Ruben

Korey Ruben

Northwest School of Wooden Boatbuilding
While attending helicopter flight school, Korey learned two things from his instructor: (1) how to fly and (2) how to sail. Boats won in the end. He graduated from the Northwest School of Wooden Boatbuilding in 2014 and dove head first into a carbon fiber composites start-up. “Ocean... Read More →
Saturday September 12, 2026 12:00pm - 12:45pm PDT
Boatbuilding Stage
  Presentation

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!
Saturday September 12, 2026 12:00pm - 12:45pm PDT
Sail Stage
  Presentation

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, individually-owned wooden sailboats ,largely built before December 1941  and whose main events are the annual Memorial Day Regatta and the mid-June Wooden Boat Show at the Corinthian Yacht Club.  Diane, who serves as President of the Dolphin Foundation and Membership Director of the Master Mariners,  will regale us with how they're doing what they do and the challenges they are facing, and asks that you bring what you're doing so we can get better, together,  at this extraordinary, complex, time-sensitive, quirky, highly-rewarding  work.
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
  Presentation

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
  Presentation

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
  Presentation

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
  Presentation

12:30pm PDT

Yacht Designer Panel
Saturday September 12, 2026 12:30pm - 2:00pm PDT
Cruising Stage
Sam Devlin, John Harris and guests

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 around them.
What makes a boat feel “right” on the water? Come find out.
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
  Presentation

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
  Presentation

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
  Presentation

1:00pm PDT

Fiberglassing Techniques
Saturday September 12, 2026 1:00pm - 1:45pm PDT
Boatbuilding Stage
Learn the basics of fiberglass laminating techniques. Presentation and demo.
Speakers
avatar for Bruce Blatchley

Bruce Blatchley

Northwest School of Wooden Boatbuilding
Bruce has been teaching at the boat school since really late in the last century. He has been other places and done other things as well. As a life long learner he realizes that the old adage: "the more I learn, the less I know" is apropos. Plus, crafting sentences that flow and/or... Read More →
Saturday September 12, 2026 1:00pm - 1:45pm PDT
Boatbuilding Stage
  Presentation
  • about <br>

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
  Presentation

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
  Presentation

2:00pm PDT

F.V Shenandoah a unique approach to restoration
Saturday September 12, 2026 2:00pm - 2:45pm PDT
Innovation Stage
This presentation will focus on the unique approach used to restore the 1925 purse seiner Shenandoah with the intention of being a permanent indoor exhibition. The restoration plan included restoring the two sides of the vessel to different eras while  blending conservation and restoration techniques with the goal of showing the vessels change over time story in a way that would inspire curiosity and learning. The presentation will also incorporate blending the many levels of details required to blend story and object in creating a cohesive exhibit and continuity between the vessel restoration, interpretive plan and greater maritime gallery as a whole.
Speakers
RH

Riley Hall

Harbor History Museum
Riley Hall is a seasoned shipwright and sailor specializing in restoration and use of wooden boats. Working as the Museum Shipwright and Preservation Specialist at the Harbor History Museum located in Gig Harbor, WA, Riley recently oversaw the volunteer driven restoration and conservation... Read More →
Saturday September 12, 2026 2:00pm - 2:45pm PDT
Innovation Stage
  Presentation

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 scientific research questions that can directly inform management action. This talk will highlight some of the Crab Team collaborations over the last decade that have illuminated the process of the invasion, potential impacts, and even potentially offer opportunities for new technological intervention strategies.
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
  Presentation

2:00pm PDT

Wooden Block Making
Saturday September 12, 2026 2:00pm - 2:45pm PDT
Boatbuilding Stage
Demonstration of the different types wood shell blocks and their various methods of construction.
Speakers
avatar for David Griswold

David Griswold

Port Townsend Shipwrights Co-op
Born along California's Redwood coast and raised in northern Nevada in the foothills of the Sierras, David Griswold made his way to Port Townsend in 1993 to attend the Northwest School of Wooden Boatbuilding (NWSWB).
He launched his career as an independent rigger from 1994 to 1999, specializing in traditional gaff rigs, before expanding into traditional boatbuilding and yacht finishes. David taught wooden block making and rigging workshops at the NWSWB and has been a presenter at the Wooden Boat... Read More →
Saturday September 12, 2026 2:00pm - 2:45pm PDT
Boatbuilding Stage
  Presentation

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 evidence provides us with the origin and destination points of these voyages, we know very little about what happened on the sea: what sailing and navigation techniques were used? What routes were followed? And why were the Vikings such successful seafarers?In this talk I will try to answer these questions by drawing on the results of my doctoral research project, in which I reconstructed Viking Age seafaring routes by conducting experimental voyages throughout Scandinavia onboard traditional Norwegian clinker boats. These voyages also helped establish the seafaring capabilities of the Vikings, allowing us to make more informed judgements about the geographical extent of their travels, and identify potential areas for future archaeological excavations. Finally, my research evaluated the relationships between indigenous North Americans and Viking settlers in and around Greenland, where the common pursuit of key resources led to cross-cultural tensions, just as it does today.
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
  Presentation

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
LV

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
  Presentation

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 for home and how resilience, heritage, and the ocean itself can transform a family’s legacy.
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
  Presentation

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 40years. 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.
Saturday September 12, 2026 2:00pm - 4:00pm PDT
Boatyard
  Presentation

2:30pm PDT

Spar Makers Panel
Saturday September 12, 2026 2:30pm - 4:00pm PDT
Cruising Stage
Moderated by Ernie Baird 
Panelists: Brad Seamans, Shipwrights Co op; Pete Stein, Shop Co op; Daniel Hawkins, Haven Boat Works
Wood 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 and highly functional structures. From selecting wood to shaping spars for vessels that sail everywhere from local waters to Cape Horn, this discussion offers a rare glimpse into the craft.
Saturday September 12, 2026 2:30pm - 4:00pm PDT
Cruising Stage
  Presentation

3:00pm PDT

67 Things a Marine Surveyor May Frind Wrong With Your Perfect 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
  Presentation

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 populations, it highlights species that are rarely seen, shares stories of population decline and ongoing recovery efforts, and explores what they can tell us about the health of Puget Sound’s deepest ecosystems.
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
  Presentation

3:00pm PDT

Traditional versus Modern sailmaking
Saturday September 12, 2026 3:00pm - 3:45pm PDT
Sail Stage
Join Wayne as he discuss the benefits of traditional versus modern sailmaking.
Speakers
avatar for Wayne Chimenti

Wayne Chimenti

Force 10 Sails
Wayne Chimenti has been in the Tall Ships profession for nearly 50 years as Captain Sailmaker and Rigger.
He has been in charge of rigging of six new vessels including Tole Mour, Robert Seamans, and Corwith Cramer.
As Captain, he sailed from the far-flung islands of the Pacific, as... Read More →
avatar for Nahja Chimenti

Nahja Chimenti

Nahja is a second-generation traditional sailmaker and a true rarity in the modern world – a craftsperson who grew up fully immersed in the craft that would become her profession. As the daughter of sailors and sailmakers, she grew up on and around tall ships and working in the... Read More →
Saturday September 12, 2026 3:00pm - 3:45pm PDT
Sail Stage
  Presentation

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 marine fouling.
Speakers
avatar for David Atwater

David Atwater

AkzoNobel

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

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
  Presentation

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 the University of Alaska in Juneau and field research biologist in Glacier Bay, Alaska—teaching, publishing scientific papers, being a mother, and sailing with her husband for three decades—to writing Deep Waters, her award-winning memoir with over 200 reviews.
Her upcoming memoir (2027) has been described as a “candid reckoning with choices the author never imagined she would make—one that resonates with readers who value honesty, vulnerability, and the search for meaning when life diverges from our ideals, while also exploring how we build lasting human connections.”
Beth’s presentation will explore how to capture and revitalize memories, tap the power of vulnerability in storytelling, and offer practical tips for getting started. Attendees will receive a resource list for taking their work to the next level, along with guidance on creating or finding a memoir-writing critique group.This session is for boaters who want to write personal stories for family and friends—or for publication.
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
  Presentation

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 from the Salish Sea again.
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
  Presentation

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
  Presentation

4:00pm PDT

Traditional Sailmaking Demo
Saturday September 12, 2026 4:00pm - 4:45pm PDT
Sail Stage

Speakers
avatar for Alan Prichard
Saturday September 12, 2026 4:00pm - 4:45pm PDT
Sail Stage
  Presentation

4:30pm PDT

Workng Together to Harness the Wind
Saturday September 12, 2026 4:30pm - 6:00pm PDT
Cruising Stage
Moderated by Allison Woods
Panelists: Megan Hudson, Mark Shiner, Ian Weedman, Justin Lathrop, Ossian Smith, Bruce Tipton

A sailing rig only works when every piece works together.
A sail alone cannot move a boat. Neither can a mast, a spar, or a length of rigging. Each depends on the others, working together to transform wind into motion.
The same is true of the people behind them.
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 loads, rigging affects sail trim, spars bend and flex under pressure, and every detail must work in harmony.
Join working sailmakers, riggers, and spar makers for a fascinating conversation about the collaboration, craftsmanship, and problem-solving required to bring a successful sailing rig to life — from traditional wooden boats to modern voyaging vessels.


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
  Presentation

5:00pm PDT

Solar Cruising; Past, Present and Future
Saturday September 12, 2026 5:00pm - 5:45pm PDT
Innovation Stage
A presentation and panel discussion about the development of modern solar boating and exciting projects both planned and currently under construction. Panelists include solar-electric boat designers, builders, and owners with thousands of miles of solar powered cruising. 
Captain Alex Borton grew up with an old wooden sailfish. He taught sailing on dinghies and keelboats, and volunteered on tall ships. He has journeyed in small engineless craft in Washington, Baja and Patagonia. In 2021 Alex talked his Dad into joining him and Wayward Sun on the first 100% solar cruise through the Inside Passage to Glacier Bay. Their company, Solar Sal Boats, built the first 100% Solar USCG Inspected passenger vessel, Solaris, which has been giving tours on the Hudson river for the past 7 years. Their 24' production model is available in stock, and their most versatile cruiser yet, the Townsend 34, is currently under construction in Port Townsend.
Saturday September 12, 2026 5:00pm - 5:45pm PDT
Innovation Stage
  Presentation
 
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 fish. She was restored a decade ago and is now currently hauled out in Port Townsend, looking for a new stewardship.
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
  Presentation

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 stern-drives.  With core physics in mind, she will go over optimum strategies for maintaining full control of the vessel anywhere in the marina, in any conditions, including approaches to the dock.
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
  Presentation

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
  Presentation

9:30am PDT

Panel: From a Lifestyle to a Living: YouTube and Other Boat-Related Revenue
Sunday September 13, 2026 9:30am - 10:30am PDT
Cruising Stage


Have you ever asked yourself: Should I start a YouTube Channel to support my boat-habit? If I chronicle the restoration of an old boat, could it help fund the project? Could I share stories of a big water-borne voyage and add to the cruising kitty? This panel of boaty filmmakers will reveal what it's like and share their unique experience and expertise. Moderated by 48° North's Joe Cline , the presenters include BC-based sailors and filmmakers Allison & James, Argonaut II's steward and storyteller Nicholas Verrochi, and distance cruiser and commercial filmmaker Andrew Tomayko.


Sunday September 13, 2026 9:30am - 10:30am PDT
Cruising Stage
  Presentation

10:00am PDT

Boat Electrical Components
Sunday September 13, 2026 10:00am - 10:45am PDT
Boatbuilding Stage

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

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 marine fouling.
Speakers
avatar for David Atwater

David Atwater

AkzoNobel

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

10:00am PDT

Sharpening - Chisels and Planes
Sunday September 13, 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.
Sunday September 13, 2026 10:00am - 10:45am PDT
Boatyard
  Presentation

10:00am PDT

The Art and Craft of Traditional Tall Ship Rigging
Sunday September 13, 2026 10:00am - 10:45am PDT
Sail Stage
There was a time, on the River Clyde, when years as an apprentice rigger were followed by years as a journeyman rigger, and one became a master rigger finally when one’s knowledge of the craft was complete.  These rigs were not just spliced and seized; they were also held together with a chain of knowledge unbroken by time and tempered by Cape Horn.  “Clydebuilt” was not just a perception of quality—it was a definition.

This presentation using PowerPoint photos will feature the complete restoration of the 1896 3-masted barque GLENLEE from a derelict hulk lying abandoned in Seville, Spain, to her current world class restoration, which led to her being named Flagship of the Year by the National Historic Ships UK organization. GLENLEE now rests peacefully in Glasgow, Scotland, on the Clyde… the river of her birth.
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
  Presentation

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.  Different species of zooplankton can either stay small or can undergo a series of changes to become the larger animals we are more familiar with (including fish, mussels, crabs, worms, and barnacles to name just a few).  Come and prepare samples of live freshly collected plankton and observe these beautiful organisms on our microscopes.  Experts in plankton identification will be available to talk to you about what you see as you are looking at the samples!
Speakers
avatar for Lee Bebout

Lee Bebout

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

Brad Bebout

Brad and co-presenter Lee Bebout met while studying harmful algal blooms on the Neuse River in North Carolina.  After short postdoctoral stays at the Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology in Bremen, Germany, and at the University of Maryland’s Horn Point Lab, they both went... Read More →
Sunday September 13, 2026 10:00am - 10:45am PDT
Marine Science Stage
  Presentation

11:00am PDT

17 Ways Not to Kill Your Inboard Diesel
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
  Presentation

11:00am PDT

Peel & Stick Carbon or Fiberglass
Sunday September 13, 2026 11:00am - 11:45am PDT
Boatbuilding Stage

Speakers
avatar for Korey Rubin

Korey Rubin

NW Wooden Boat School
While attending helicopter flight school, Korey learned two things from his instructor: (1) how to fly and (2) how to sail. Boats won in the end. He graduated from the Northwest School of Wooden Boatbuilding in 2014 and dove head first into a carbon fiber composites start-up. “Ocean... Read More →
Sunday September 13, 2026 11:00am - 11:45am PDT
Boatbuilding Stage
  Presentation

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 as a source of beach sediment, why some beaches are eroding and others growing, and hopefully you'll gain a deeper appreciation for the feel of warm sand under your feet knowing how it got there.
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
  Presentation

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 procuring, carrying, and managing prescription medications while underway.
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
  Presentation

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 planning your first adventure race.  Wherever you are dreaming of going, it's more probable than you think.
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
  Presentation

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 sailmaker, teacher and researcher, on a walk through time, starting with an Elizabethan eviction notice in 1571, meeting some interesting characters along the way, some good books and some dreadful books, and ending with a look at Mark’s favourite text, the Sailmaker’s Apprentice by Port Townsend's own Emiliano Marino. (and if you made the Ditty Bag in chapter 1, bring it!)

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
  Presentation

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
  Presentation

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
  Presentation

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, reliability, and real-world use.
Speakers
GT

Geoffrey Trott

Air Head Composting Toilet
Geoff Trott is the designer of the first mobile urine-diverting composting toilet system and the founder and manufacturer of Air Head Composting Toilet. A lifelong sailor, inventor, and hands-on problem solver, Geoff has spent decades developing practical sanitation solutions for... Read More →
Sunday September 13, 2026 12:00pm - 12:45pm PDT
Innovation Stage
  Presentation

12:00pm PDT

Fire Extinguishing Systems on Boats
Sunday September 13, 2026 12:00pm - 12:45pm PDT
Boatbuilding Stage
Fire on a boat is one of the biggest risks owners manage. Fire extinguishing equipment and technology is evolving - learn about the different types of extinguishers and extinguishing systems, and what is best for your boat. Taught by Evan Bailly, Lead Marine Systems Instructor at the Boat School.
Speakers
avatar for Evan Bailly

Evan Bailly

Northwest School of Wooden Boatbuilding
Evan is a Seattle native who joined the army as a helicopter mechanic right out of high school. During his tenure in the military, Evan started sailing any time leave would allow, and worked off and on as an engineer and deckhand on Gray’s Harbor Historical Seaport’s tall ships... Read More →
Sunday September 13, 2026 12:00pm - 12:45pm PDT
Boatbuilding Stage
  Presentation

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
  Presentation

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 through salmon life history, from egg to spawning adult, explaining their unique anadromous lifecycle and the diversity among the five Pacific salmon species. It also outlines the critical habitat conditions salmon need to survive, known as the “5 C’s” (clean, clear, connected, cold, and complex), and examines major threats including habitat loss, pollution, dams, logging, and climate change. Ultimately, the presentation underscores both the challenges facing salmon and the ongoing restoration efforts that offer hope for their recovery, inspiring individuals and communities to take an active role in protecting and restoring these vital ecosystems.
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
  Presentation

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
  Presentation

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 Yacht
What 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, the Ugly and the True Costs Involved
– Preserving an Era: Your Role as a Steward
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
  Presentation

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 on your cabin. An individually designed and traditionally built yacht is the work of many hands, all of them highly skilled, most of them poorly paid.  They are the forgotten people whose labour is too easily taken for grant ed and forgotten.Writing my new book about 80 years of Peter Duck, I'm trying to face up to some of these questions: lay the ghosts, celebrate the makers. It was teh Port Townsend invitation that started me on this quest, please come and join me.
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
  Presentation

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 visibility, master boatbuilders and sailors face the risk of their craft disappearing. Today, only about 20 saveiros de vela remain in active service. A new collaboration between Projeto Içar, BRANA, and the region's master shipwrights aims to revive saveiros de vela and increase the cultural visibility of the people who build and sail them by creating economic opportunities in traditional boatbuilding and sail cargo in the region. Through in-person remarks and video, this presentation introduces these boats, their makers, and their home waters to the Festival.
Sunday September 13, 2026 12:30pm - 1:30pm PDT
Technical Stage
  Presentation

1:00pm PDT

Building a Marine First Aid Kit: Improvised Versus Commercial
Sunday September 13, 2026 1:00pm - 1:45pm PDT
Boatyard
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 gaps seen in commercially available kits.
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 1:00pm - 1:45pm PDT
Boatyard
  Presentation

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 future.
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
  Presentation

1:00pm PDT

Steam Bending
Sunday September 13, 2026 1:00pm - 1:45pm PDT
Boatbuilding Stage
Steam bending involves exposing wood to heat and moisture from steam, which softens the lignin and cellulose fibers, making the wood pliable. Once bent around a form or jig and allowed to cool, the wood retains its new shape. This method has been used in boat building for centuries and is still used today.
Speakers
avatar for Orrin Webb

Orrin Webb

Northwest School of Wooden Boatbuilding
Orrin’s path to boatbuilding was shaped by a lifelong passion for working with his hands. Before finding wooden boats, he built custom homes, worked with timber framing, cabinetry, and furniture, and honed his skills in high-end residential construction and finish carpentry, all... Read More →
Sunday September 13, 2026 1:00pm - 1:45pm PDT
Boatbuilding Stage
  Presentation

1:00pm PDT

The resourceful sailor: Creative solutions to Boat Modifications and repairs
Sunday September 13, 2026 1:00pm - 1:45pm PDT
Boatyard
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 1:00pm - 1:45pm PDT
Boatyard
  Presentation

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
  Presentation

1:00pm PDT

Traditional Sailmaking Demo
Sunday September 13, 2026 1:00pm - 1:45pm PDT
Sail Stage

Speakers
avatar for Alan Prichard
Sunday September 13, 2026 1:00pm - 1:45pm PDT
Sail Stage
  Presentation

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 upgrading her capabilities.

In this seminar, we profile the fascinating lineage of the Thea Foss and dive deep into her latest upgrade: the installation of a massive lithium battery bank and a Victron 3-phase inverter system. We will pull back the curtain on the engineering challenges of retrofitting advanced energy technology into a vintage vessel. From balancing large AC loads and managing automation logic to achieving the ultimate onboard luxury—complete silence at anchor.
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
  Presentation

2:00pm PDT

Medicine at Sea — 5 Things Every Sailor Should Know
Sunday September 13, 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 →
Sunday September 13, 2026 2:00pm - 2:45pm PDT
Innovation Stage
  Presentation

2:00pm PDT

Traditional Sailmaking Demo
Sunday September 13, 2026 2:00pm - 2:45pm PDT
Sail Stage

Speakers
avatar for Alan Prichard
Sunday September 13, 2026 2:00pm - 2:45pm PDT
Sail Stage
  Presentation

2:00pm PDT

Whale Neighbors of the Salish Sea
Sunday September 13, 2026 2:00pm - 2:45pm PDT
Marine Science Stage
The Salish Sea is an amazing habitat full of marine wildlife. Many species of whales make the Salish Sea their home for part or all of the year. Some, like the humpback whale, have recovered from near extinction and are an incredible success story. Others, like Southern Resident orcas and gray whales, are struggling and need our help. Learn about our fascinating whale neighbors in the Salish Sea and how we can become involved in their protection and recovery.

Bio:Cindy Hansen received a degree in Zoology from the University of Washington and has worked as a naturalist and educator for over 20 years. She has been the Education and Advocacy Coordinator for Orca Network since 2016, working from her home on San Juan Island as well as doing education, outreach and advocacy throughout the region. Additionally, she is a board member and volunteer for the research organization Orca Behavior Institute. Cindy also spent 20 years migrating with the gray whales to Laguna San Ignacio in Baja Mexico where she worked as a naturalist/guide.
Speakers
avatar for Cindy Hansen

Cindy Hansen

Orca Network
Cindy Hansen received a degree in Zoology from the University of Washington and has worked as a naturalist and educator for over 20 years. She has been the Education and Advocacy Coordinator for Orca Network since 2016, working from her home on San Juan Island as well as doing education... Read More →
Sunday September 13, 2026 2:00pm - 2:45pm PDT
Marine Science Stage
  Presentation
 

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