This week (January 21, 2026) the speaker at our Winter Wednesdays series is Captain Richard McCurdy. Captain McCurdy was born in Port Townsend, as was his father and father’s father. He had a childhood dream of sailing his own boat to the South Pacific and beyond. His father, who Richard characterizes as a “vicarious sailor,” told him that if he got an advanced degree, he would help Richard build a boat to take on this long voyage. So after getting a Masters’ degree in carbohydrate and polyphenolic chemistry he spent 1974-1976 finishing the bare hull of a Cape George [...]

As you may know, PTSA hosts programs at the clubhouse every Wednesday in January through March. We have a great lineup of speakers planned for 2026. The first one is on January 7th at 6pm and features long time sailor and PTSA board member Piper Dunlap. Over the last few years he has competed in both the Pacific Cup and Transpac races from San Francisco or Los Angeles to Hawaii. Piper will tell us what it's like to race full-on for 2,225 nautical miles including what it's like to steer, at night, in thirty knots of wind, and other stories.Additional [...]

End Of Year Party 2025 On a rainy night a good crowd of sailors came out to celebrate a busy and successful year of racing and sailing on Port Townsend Bay. The good food and camaraderie made it a fitting end to the 2025 season. President Holly Kays was out sick so Jeff Brantley ran the event. He presented the state of the club (good) and plans for next season. Elections were held. The board will be mostly the same as this year with Holly staying on as president for a third year (thank you Holly!), Chris King will [...]

Thank to all the volunteers who staffed the booth at the 2025 Wooden Boat Festival! They gave out lots of good information, sold hats and raffle tickets (for a ride on the committee boat), and generally promoted PTSA.

Friends & clients of Sean Rankins at Northwest Sails have donated a number of sails, either unused or in perfect condition, to find homes for, the proceeds to be used for on the water events in our sailing community. The pricing for these sails are a third of what they would sell for today, If you are interested please send an email to info@ptsail.org These first three (3) Sails are brand new. Actually, never used. They were built for a masthead rigged Lapworth 36, which unfortunately was destroyed. NEW MAINS’L: Made by Oliver McCann Sails Luff: 41.0’ Leech: [...]

If  you at all confused about currents in PT  bay, and beyond, there is a new current prediction model and associated viewer that may be able to help. We now have hour by hour tidal current forecasts out two or three days that take into account the local values of wind and pressure, as well as unseasonal river runoff. The models are updated four times a day to account for changes in these local environmental factors that affect tide height and current flow. The model is NOAA’s new Operational Forecast System (OFS) and there is a very nice web [...]

Steve Scharf was spotted today digging holes and planting some new shrubbery in front of the clubhouse. Thanks Steve!

The  second PTSA work party  (3/30/25) was a great success with 22 folks coming to lend a hand and accomplish a lot in just 2 hours. We had some enthusiastic landscaping in front of the clubhouse along with a big clean up around the small boat trailer. All of this will make it much easier to maintain through the summer months. Jeff Brantley got help from a couple of volunteers to set two of our race marks ("C" and "Y"). PTSA's Tbird, Mustang Sally, is getting closer to sail-ready and three folks took a deep dive into cleaning her [...]

Ann and John Bailey, sailing double handed, corrected out in first place over eighteen other boats in the 2025 edition of Girts Rekevics Memorial Foulweather Race sponsored by the Anacortes Yacht Club. The race, which starts in Anacortes and ends at Friday Harbor, saw breezy conditions with gusts up to 35 knots. Finishing in 2:13:54 Sir Isaac averaged over 8 knots!

Presented by Sailing With Josh, The Resourceful Sailor & the Port Townsend Sailing Association Wednesday, March 12, 2025 5:30pm – SNACKS 6:00pm – SHOW 7:30pm – RECEPTION Beverages provided by Admiral Ship Supply Britannica defines an odyssey as: 1. literary: a long journey full of adventures. 2. a series of experiences that give knowledge or understanding to someone. In August 2023, Sampaguita, a Pacific Seacraft Flicka 20, and Joshua Wheeler embarked on an epic Pacific Ocean odyssey. Beginning and ending in Port Townsend, WA, they journeyed down the North American West Coast to Baja, Mexico, followed the trade winds [...]

We had a total of 20 folks show up  and we able to accomplish a whole assortment of projects (thank you sunshine). The committee boat received a super scrub down along with the RC gang going through an inventory process for safety and other equipment. Paul led a crew to work on the Laser trailer which led to the 4th club Laser being stored on the trailer. A couple of folks cleaned Mustang Sally  so she'll be ready for her next step in prepping for chainplates. The race mark buoys s got scrubbed and painted. Thanks to Steve for [...]

As PTSA has accumulated more physical things, like the clubhouse, Mustang Sally (Thunderbird), the small boats we now own (Lasers and PT15's), and the committee boat, it has become clear that we need to maintain them too! A number of board members have been trying to keep up, but now it's time to spread out the load, and the fun. So we are introducing once a month work parties. Come volunteer a short time and make a difference! We plan to have these regularly on the last Sunday of the month from 10am to noon.  All skills and skill [...]

Scott Wilson spent almost two years researching and writing a local history book focused on the Port of Port Townsend and the marine trades industry in the Port Townsend area. "Working Port: 100 Years of the Port of Port Townsend" arrived in April 2024. Wilson has created a slide show that captures the highlights of this history, with a focus on the collection of local characters who played important roles on the waterfront, and in the community, for the past century. They include Big Edgar Sims (of Sims Way), who pulled the strings that placed the Boat Haven Marina [...]

Did you know that the PTSA owns a club Thunderbird named Mustang Sally? Did you know that PTSA members can have access to Mustang Sally? Did you know you can volunteer to help refit Mustang Sally in the push to prep her for the racing season? (It might get you on the shortlist for access!) Mustang Sally even has a committee, so you know it’s serious. What, rebuilding chainplates and cleaning winches are out of your wheelhouse? No worries, Mustang Sally is a learning opportunity. But if your specialty is baking cupcakes or distilling rum, don’t underestimate [...]

The PTSA End-of-Year party was held on November 19th. It was a dark and stormy night (the "bomb cyclone") but people braved the elements to enjoy some good food and camaraderie. The following, presented by President Holly Kays, highlights 2024 and looks ahead to 2025. It also tells who won the awards for the year and has a good recap of the many events the club held (a new record!), and you can see who is running the show (the officers and board) for the new year. Open Report in a New Window Or Read Below [...]

Crystal Craig has taken some great photos of Wednesday night racing - you can find them here. Crystal has given permission for unlimited non-commercial use. And Dale Dunning has a video on YouTube of last Wednesday's race.

Do you enjoy being out on Port Townsend Bay? Do you like boating and sailing? Are you interested in supporting your significant other, partner, or child as they race on the Bay? Are you interested in learning about a trawler with an ELECTRIC MOTOR? Do you want to be part of a small, close-knit team that supports the PORT TOWNSEND SAILING ASSOCIATION’s racing activities? If you answer YES to any of these questions, please consider volunteering for our Race Committee Team. We will be supporting racing on the Bay on Monday evenings (starting in May), Wednesday evenings (April), and [...]

Dave Wilkinson gave an excellent presentation at the clubhouse on Wednesday about wind and currents, focusing on PT Bay. There was a standing room only crowd. Here is a PDF of his slides from the presentation.

Here is the revised racing calendar for 2024. The big change of note is that PHRF races will be held on Wednesday evenings (no Friday races) in conjunction with the Thunderbird one-design races. PHRF boats will have their own start and course. This change was made to try get more PHRF boats out racing.

PTSA board member Jen Bates, as well as Ian Weedman, and Chance Bates are all shown doing their magic down at the Brion Toss rigging loft at Point Hudson. It's a fun, informative and interesting video.

Doug, board member of PTSA, is shown working on the restoration of the 1938 Spidsgatter "Helma". Robert d'Arcy (Schooner Martha) lead the project. Pete Langley (Port Townsend Foundry), and Ian Weedman (Brion Toss Rigging)  are featured as well, both of their businesses having contributed to bringing this beautiful boat back to life. It's an interesting story of a project that started out being about fixing a few leaks and ended up as an almost total rebuild. Well worth reading.

Here is outgoing president Roland Nikles' Annual Report, which he presented at the end of year member's meeting and awards party on November 16, 2023.

The PTSA weekend overnight to Watmough Bay shaped up as a match race between the Alden 44 Puffin (Chris King accompanied by Matt, Xavier, and Helena Cooper ) and the 1930 39' Yawl Erin (Steve Chapin and Mike Kennedy).  A 35' Wauqiez Pretorian Alente (Terry Spencer) joined a little later in the crossing from City Dock to Watmough Bay.  The trio was accompanied by the motor cruiser Kailita (Bobbi and Roland Nikles, Jeff and Angela Brantley). David Burrows started the fleet at City Dock promptly at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday.  The wind was light, with high overcast and some fog.  Helena Cooper [...]

  This weekend is PTSA's overnight trip to Watmough Bay.  Call it competitive cruising, or efficiently proficient sailing with a party thrown in! We start at 10:00 a.m. at City Dock.  There will be no flag or horn. Just be there to see if you can find the most efficient route for the 20 mile crossing from Port Townsend to Watmough Bay. If you prefer, bring your power boat. Watmough Bay is located on the SE tip of Lopez Island.  It is a dramatic setting:  a protected Bay nestled between steep sided cliffs, an easily accessible pebble beach at the [...]

What:              Annual Fire Extinguisher Inspection Service Where:            At the Clubhouse When:             Friday, May 19th, 10:00 a.m. Cost:                $10 for members Tarboo Fire Protection and Extinguisher Service will be at the Clubhouse on Friday, May 19th at 10:00 a.m. to perform an annual inspection on our two Clubhouse fire-extinguishers. As a service to PTSA members, Tarboo will also inspect and tag your fire extinguisher for a flat rate of $10.00 if you bring it by at that time. Normal “service call fee” of $29.95 is waived. If your unit requires internal inspection there is flat fee of $21.00. Come [...]

Long time PTSA member James Arsulish passed away on April 6th, 2023. He was born on March 10th 1957. James was awarded the Ed Barcott trophy in 2020 for his many years of service to the club. He and his boat, Norma Mae, were fixtures out racing on the bay over many seasons. His willingness to take folks out on his boat meant that a lot of  people had their very first experience of racing with James. His presence has been missed over the last couple of years as his health declined. Our condolences go out to his family and friends. [...]

Around thirty people came out on a beautiful evening for the kickoff party for the 2023 sailing season. PTSA president Roland Nikles reviewed the sailing instructions and did a demo of the starting flags. There was live music and everybody seemed to have a good time. The forecast for tomorrow's first race of the Whitecap series (Friday 3/31) ifs for 20-30 kts. If it holds the race may be cancelled. Stay tuned.

Wednesday's movie is "AROUND CAPE HORN" by Irving Johnson. It is 38 minutes long and features footage from a 1928 voyage on the "Peking", one of the last great sailing cargo ships.  Johnson was an amateur photographer and was able to capture views of a huge storm from up in the rigging,  as well as what day-to-day life looked like for the average seaman of the day.

It's been 10 years since Jim Heumann and Karen Sullivan returned from their trans-Pacific voyage from Port Townsend to New Zealand, but the trip is as fresh and exciting as a southerly storm buffeting the newly rebuilt north jetty at Point Hudson.  Jim and Karen reprised their trip  for an attentive crowd of 31 at the Clubhouse this evening. Just shy of 11,000 ocean miles travelled, and the roughest stretch of water Jim and Karen encountered was 100 miles off the Oregon coast, one week from home.  Their Pacific Seacraft Dana 24 foot boat drifted 100 miles south while [...]

The first in the educational series at the clubhouse was attend by around fifteen people. The consensus at the end was it was a great talk and the lessons learned could be quite beneficial for the racing sailor. After going over the big picture of how wind is created, Dave took us through the smaller scale of Port Townsend Bay and how the terrain effects the wind. The photos and charts, specific to this area, that he showed were particularly helpful. Dave, besides being a weather guru, is a regular on the committee boat. Stay tuned for more fun [...]

Around thirty people showed up for the Clubhouse inauguration. Roland Nikles started the evening with a welcome and a few remarks. Everyone introduced themselves. Several folks signed up as members. Then Stig Osterberg did an interactive presentation focusing on race starts using photos he took from the committee boat this last summer. Drinks were quaffed and snacks were consumed. The plan is to have a gathering every Wednesday at 6pm in January, March, and April. We hope to have a topic of interest to discuss each evening, but there will be ample time to just hang out, have a [...]

As you can see from the photos the clubhouse is getting a makeover before its first event on Wednesday the 28th of December at 6pm. Please come by for a beverage or two and some snacks and hang out with your fellow sailors. Thanks to Roland and Bobbi Nikles, Steve Scharf, Jen Bates, and Mark Blatter for all the hard work.

The end of year party was a fun time with great food and camaraderie. Next year's schedule was reviewed. Roland explained the plan for a new "clubhouse" in the Nomura (Skookum) building at Boat Haven. The high school sailing team was given a new suit of sails. Awards and thank-you's were announced. A good time was had by all. See the awards and thank-you's.

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