Ted Pike Race 2025 Start Video
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Another Fun Sunday Funday
Sounds like the Sunday Funday on May 25th was a blast. Here's a report from Dave James who runs the event: For the second Sunday Funday of 2025 the skippers meeting we had 7 boats looking for crew and about 12 crew looking for boats. Some of the crew from last month were able to shuffle around, allowing them to experience sailing on different boats. More crew members could have easily been accommodated but every boat had at least a minimum crew. It was a beautiful, sunny day but the winds were light, so we weren’t in a hurry [...]
Photos from the PHRF Whitecap Series 2019
The PHRF Whitecap series was a success with good racing and some beautiful evenings. Plans are being made for a PHRF fall series. Stay tuned.
WBF Shipwright’s Race – 2019
We had a very fortunate weather window for this year’s Shipwright’s Regatta:- no rain, reasonably steady 11 knot SSE wind, and temperatures soaring into the mid 40’s. 26 boats registered, 20 participated and 18 finished. The course was twice around a roughly 2 mile triangle. Perpetual Awards -The First Wooden Boat to Start and the First Wooden Boat to Finish. ---------- 505, Zaya, -The Last Boat to Finish. ---------------- Gloucester Gull Dory, Taswens -The Best use of Misspent Energy. (For only managing to start after a few boats had finished the first lap). ---------------- Stephanie E -The First Boat [...]
Winter Sailing Saturdays
It was relatively warm on the first Saturday of the the new year and two Thunderbirds, Thatuna and Owl, took advantage of it to get in a race. Two laps from Indian Point around the tower. The wind was pretty good and it didn't rain. Owl prevailed but it was a close fought contest. The plan is to sail every Saturday, weather permitting. Races will start at 12 noon. Come on out and enjoy some casual winter sailing. Owl downwind Thatuna crew Thatuna on a balmy winter day
WBF Shipwright’s Regatta Results
26 th Annual Shipwright's Regatta - Feb. 25, 2017 This year’s Shipwright's was greeted by light southerly breezes. A long triangular course was set so that if the wind didn’t pick up boats would have a good distance to travel within the 2 hour time limit. If the wind picked up they could sail the course twice around. The start was postponed for 20 minutes while there was no wind. The wind remained light so the course was shortened to once around. This worked out well as the fastest boat finished less than a minute short of one hour, and [...]
Wooden Boat Festival – Race Results
2016 Festival: 26’ & Under Class and Thunderbird Race Boats in Festival: 1 Kiya 16:10:27 (started 5 minutes after other Festival boats) 2 Chesuki 16:10:08 3 Zeta 16:17:19 All non T-Bird boats: Start time-14:48:00 1 Habenero 16:03:30 2 Chesuki 16:10:08 3 Rascal 16:11:14 4 Hakum 16:14:11 5 Zita 16:17:19 6 Aquavit 16:27:50 [...]
2016 Thunderbird Northwest Regional Championship Regatta
This fun event is begin held in Port Townsend for the second year in a row. Find all the details and the entry form in the notice of race (below). 2016 Thunderbird Northwest Regional Regatta Notice of Race And here are the final sailing instructions for the regatta: 2016 Thunderbird Regionals SI-v2
Classic Mariners’ Regatta – 2016
Classic boats on the bay This years CMR was graced with hot sunny weather and good winds which encouraged a good turnout by out of town boats. As usual the Wooden Boat Foundation were welcoming hosts. View some photos from the regatta (all taken by Ace Spragg). On Saturday there were two races around a triangular course set in the inner part of the bay. The wind was Northwest in the high ‘teens and, except near the windward shore, changes in direction and strength were small and slow. During the second race there were extended gusts [...]
The Call of the Sea
Seen at the Wooden Boat Festival, a new version of an old story. Photo by Wendy Feltham
Classic Mariner’s Regatta
Bertram adjusts the pole. CMR 2015. Photo by Ace Spragg, NW Maritime Center. Only 13 boats participated in this year’s CMR. It has been suggested that better promotion is needed. The first course was set in a NE breeze around 7 knots. As conditions began to deteriorate, it was decided to shorten the course for classes B and Schooners. With a northerly breeze near town and a southerly breeze on the south side of the Bay, a windless whole formed near Boat Haven and it was feared that no boats would be able to finish in the 2 [...]
Don’t Miss Classic Mariners’ Regatta This Weekend
********************************************** CMR The CMR is Jun 5 th, 6th, & 7th. Classic, traditional and historic boats of all description come from all around the region for this event. Unfortunately, On-line Details have been eclipsed on the WBF and NWMC websites by the R2AK and the Wooden Boat Festival. CMR details can be found here: http://nwmaritime.org/events/mariners-regatta/ . There is a rumor, unsubstantiated but worth checking out, that FG T-birds may be allowed to slip in. (though not eligible for awards). In spite of what they say - they have in the past accepted late registrations at the skippers' [...]
24th Annual Shipwrights’ Regatta – February 28, 2015
Post courtesy of the NW Maritime Center The 2015 season starts February 28th with the Shipwrights' Regatta. The sailboat racing season in Port Townsend opens with the Port Townsend Shipwrights’ Regatta in February. The Northwest Maritime Center & Wooden Boat Foundation, in conjunction with the Port Townsend Sailing Association, present the 24th Annual Shipwright’s Regatta! Boats of all construction are welcome. As always, the race is open to folks who would like to try sailboat racing but do not have a boat. Non-boat owners are encouraged to show up at the Skippers’ Meeting and be connected with skippers [...]
Jim Daubenberger and Ed Barcott Awarded Lifetime Achievement Awards
Two of Port Townsend's most influential sailors, Jim Daubenberger and Ed Barcott, were awarded the Wooden Boat Foundation’s Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2014 WBF. Port Townsend is often described as a sailor's town but in more recent times it was not always so. Through their efforts, and the efforts of others they inspired, sailing and sailboat racing continue to flourish on our Bay. Here's a tribute to Jim Daubenberger from the Port Townsend Leader. Daubenberger helped launch PT’s modern sailing legacy Sea Scout lessonsJim Daubenberger gives Sea Scout lessons to young sailors at Port Townsend Boat Haven. The [...]
Classic Mariners Regatta Results
Lovely weekend well spent for the boats that came out for the 2014 edition of the Classic Mariners Regatta. All the classes saw close racing and in more than one there was a one point difference between first and second, and one more point between second and third. We had good conditions, if a bit spotty on Sunday for the longer race. 27 boats participated. Because there were only three 6 Meter entries and only 4 T-birds, they got the first start together (though scored as separate classes). There was only one schooner that didn’t want to sail in A [...]
Old Ships, Big Waves
Photo by Gilles Martin-Raget posted on pressure-drop.us Halsey Herreshoff in his excellent talk at the NW Maritime Center identified the south of France as today's epicenter of historic sailing vessels. If you are going to be in big Mediterranean seas, these look like the ships to be in. Photographed at the ongoing Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez. More pictures and complete story here
Classic Mariners Regatta Sign Up Time
Schedule of events and fact sheet download here & Regatta sign up download here
PT Wooden Boat Festival
Great video by OffCenterHarbor.com hit the web on Sailing Anarchy this AM. Thanks Erik Coburn for the tip.
22nd Annual 2013 Shipwrights’ Regatta Perpetual Awards
From Ace Spragg, the hard working Waterfront Programs Manager at the Northwest Maritime Center Special thanks to the regatta sponsors: Port of Port Townsend • Port Townsend Brewing Co. • Sunrise Coffee • Sea Marine • Northwest Marine Center of Excellence TAKU AWARD: First wooden boat across the START line: Won by: Sirocco PEG LEG: First boat across the FINISH line: Dew Flicker THE HOOK: Last boat across the FINISH line: Idrill THE GOLDEN TRIDENT: Saltiest boat or crew: Deadwood, who capsized 3 times! DIRECTIONAL HELMET: not awarded, since everyone made it in safely in a squall! WACK-O-MATIC: Best use [...]
More Shipwrights’ Photos
Craig Wester sent in some great shots of the 2013 Shipwrights’ Regatta. There’s a large collection to check out on the other side of the continued link. Scott Walker in TZIEU working hard to keep it upright. Photo by Craig Wester […]
Shipwrights’ First Pics
More fun than a barrel of monkeys. Wind went from 5 to 35, good part about the rain was it washed the salt off your face. Fun times indeed. It's gonna be a good year. Thanks, Wendy Feltham for the first shots. More pics and information to follow. Before the start ... The front starts to show up on the first beat to windward ... Hello ...
Shipwrights’ Regatta Delayed One Week
With gale warnings and one of our chase boats broken, the Shipwrights' Regatta has been delayed one week. The forecast for next Saturday looks more promising. Same schedule, 9 AM Skipper's Meeting, twelve o'clock start. Calls like this aren't an easy thing to make, lots of phone calls, staring at widely divergent forecasts, etc. As always, the final decision on whether to untie from the dock is each skipper's individual decision.
Shipwights Decision by 8 AM Saturday, Feb 23rd
From Ace Spragg, Waterfront Programs Manager, Northwest Maritime Center... Special Notice: Due to the high wind and seas warning, there is a chance the race will be postponed. We will make a decision whether or not to race by Saturday at 8am. Please call 360-385-3626 x103 at 8am Saturday, or check the web site here or here. If the race is postponed, we will hold it Saturday, March 2nd; Skipper's Meeting at 9am, race at 12:00.
Shipwright’s Regatta on weather standby…
Special Weather Notice: The 2013 Shipwright's Regatta is being threatened by some pretty severe wind and sea state predictions. Stay tuned for further information. We will post an update Friday at 4pm. If we decide to wait and see, the final decision will be made Saturday morning at the 9am Skipper's Meeting. If the race is postponed, we will hold it Saturday, March 2nd; Skipper's Meeting at 9am, race at 12:00.
Join the Port Townsend Sailing Association for a Year Full of Fun on the Water
Improve your sailing skills, share in the fun. The Port Townsend Sailing Association had another great season in 2012. Thank you to all our members who made this year so successful & enjoyable. If you are not a current member, please consider rejoining us & catch up on all the fun you’ve been missing. If you are a 2012 member, please renew for 2013. We hope you’ll join again & help make 2013 another amazing year. If you are a new member, we look forward to some great times together on the water. This past year we: Sponsored [...]
Shipwrights’ Regatta – February 23, 2013
Time to wash the green off your deck and your crew, the first event of the 2013 sailing season is right around the corner. The Northwest Maritime Center & Wooden Boat Foundation, in conjunction with the Port Townsend Sailing Association, present the 22nd Annual Shipwright's Regatta! Door Prizes! Perpetual Awards! Chance to win a free haulout for two lucky racers! Boats of all construction & crew without boats welcome. • Skipper’s Meeting at 9 am at the NWMC • Complimentary coffee provided by Sunrise Coffee • Race starts at 12 noon on Port Townsend Bay • Awards ceremony & refreshments [...]
2012 Wooden Boat Festival Schooner Race
[slideshow id=50] Thanks to Wendy Feltham for some great shots from the schooner race, plus one of some folks having a heck of a good time.. Pretty impressive how big PACIFIC GRACE is. She makes our local suspects look almost petite. Fun weekend.
2012 Wooden Boat Festival Sail By
[slideshow id=49] A front from the south came through on the Sunday Sail By and gave a good rollicking ride. It was a fun day to sail and no one showed more pleasure in it than the big boats who are made for days like this. But it was not just big boats; all kinds of boats came out to parade around the Bay. What a treat to have the tug ELMORE chug by. As a friend said, "That's how boats are supposed to sound."
Wooden Boat Tour of our Bay this Saturday
ATTENTION ALL WOODEN BOAT OWNERS: The last race of the 2012 Wooden Boat Series will be this Saturday, July 7th .The race starts at noon off the City Dock and will go around Port Townsend Bay (wind permitting, and it is predicted to be 10-15k.) If you don’t want to race, just come out and take a leisurely tour around the bay. For more information, contact Steve Scharf (sjs@olympus.net) or Kathy Grace (301-4938).
Satch’s Rock Still Awaits the Unwary
Piper Dunlap pointed out that on the Wednesday race starts, Satch's Rock still awaits starters who venture a little too close to the Indian Point shore as they are heading for the line. That wasn't an issue for the rock's namesake who has STEP'N ANNIE out of the yard and moving really well. Good crowd out on another beautiful evening.
Shipwrights’ Race Is In a Week!
The 21st annual Shipwrights' Race is coming right up on Saturday, February 25th. Round up your hibernating crew or pick up some fresh crew here on this site or at the skippers' meeting and get ready for a fun race with wacky trophies and valuables prizes. You'll have the choice of three fleets -- Racing, Cruising, and Inshore (small boats). Download your entry form here (Shipwrights' Race Reg. Form 2012) or pick one up at the Chandlery at the Northwest Maritime Center. Entry fee is $20 per boat before Feb. 16th and $25 thereafter. The Sunrise Coffee sponsored skippers' meeting will [...]
Dialing in Step’nAnnie for Heavy Weather
So with last Sunday's race canceled, we took a vote and decided to get a practice session in with some real wind, we stayed out for a couple of hours, and got the boat and crew pretty comfortable. Boat speeds up into the 8 kt range a few times, lots of 7 kt speeds. Good times for sure, and we're ready for some pressure now. Winds were in the upper 20's, gusts into the upper 30's. Port Townsend Bay is really pretty protected so this was a good opportunity. Special thanks to crewmember Charles for bringing the keen video [...]
Mike Berman Shoots the 2011 CMR
From the deck of MARTHA, Mike Berman shares his pictures of the 2011 Classic Mariners Regatta. Check his web site for more great pictures, Michael Berman Photography. [slideshow id=33]
Watch out 505’s: The Swift Solo is Coming to P.T.
2011 Swift Solo North American Championships in Port Townsend On July 8, 9, 10 the Northwest Maritime Center will be hosting a series of races for the Swift Solo Class. The Swift Solo is a high performance three sail single-handed skiff designed in 2000 by Bram Dally. The boats are mostly owner-built out of cedar. The class was formed in 2003 and has a championship each year. Last year was in the Columbia Gorge. This year the event is in Port Townsend. The boats will sail off the Maritime Center pier beginning at noon on Friday, July 8 and 11 [...]
The People That Make It Happen
There is a dedicated team that made the recent Classic Mariners' Regatta a reality. All sorts of things need to be done, and one of the unexpected items that needed "doing" this year was the making of new bases for the found CMR trophies. The trophies have been around since 1988. (The first CMR was in 1983.) Around 1996 they disappeared but were "found"again in storage this year at the Maritime Center. Research at The Leader provided the missing winners' names for the intervening years, but there was not room to list them all on the original trophy bases. Enter Todd Knoblock, [...]
CMR 2011 – Thank You Mr. Weatherman
MORNING FLIGHT at the 2011 Classic Mariners’ Regatta We waited a long time for a weekend like this last one. Sunny, clear, warm, and absolutely perfect wind. Like they say, it doesn’t get any better than that. There were 38 registrants for the Classic Mariners’ Regatta, as well as 7 for the rowing race on Sunday. Two were from Canada and a number from out of town. The race results are as follow Committee’s Choice Award: Lady Van (R-Boat from Canada)for sailing the perfect race, for coming down from Canada to do it, and for practicing all last [...]
Rob Sanderson Embarking for Ocean Dreams
Rob Sanderson, one of the hardest working anchors of the Northwest Maritime Center, will be heading out on Velella Velella in July for some continuing education’ on the open ocean. Here is how he describes his decision to embark on his dream: “Last winter I was visiting my father and he brought out a shoebox from the closet full of “art projects” from my childhood that I didn’t remember doing and didn’t realize that he had kept. It was after a fine dinner with some wine that I opened up that box and starting picking through the articles inside. [...]
Wooden boat owners come play with us!
Saturday was the first race in the new Sirens' Wooden Boat Series which takes place on various Saturdays throughout the season. The next race is on Opening Day - Saturday, May 7th. See below for the results of Race One. Six lucky woodies enjoyed epic conditions: Plenty of sunshine and great breeze!
20th Annual Shipwrights Regatta
See the complete gallery after the break. The 20th Annual Shipwrights Regatta finally sailed on March 5th, after a postponement the week before due to snow, sleet, and high winds. The weather was considerably nicer for the second try, with 5-12 knots of wind, 40-50 degrees, and even a brief period of sunshine. 27 boats registered for the event, and 20 actually made it to the water. The course was a little confusing since the wind would not cooperate with the predetermined North or South choices on the Race Instructions. When you read the race results, please keep [...]
2011 SHIPWRIGHTS REGATTA
The first race of the 2011 season is coming up: February 26th is the NWMC/ Wooden Boat Foundation's 20th Annual Shipwrights Regatta. The Skipper's Meeting is at 9am at the NWMC. (Late registration from 8-9am). Race starts at noon. The awards ceremony will be approximately 5pm at the NWMC. There will be free coffee, free beer and snacks, perpetual trophies, and and a chance to win one of 2 free haul outs from Sea Marine. Also loads of fun! If you won one of the Perpetual trophies last year, be sure and bring it back at the Skippers [...]
The Townsend Tern
Walking the docks at Point Hudson we ran into Chelcie Liu and Kees Prins putting the final touches on rigging the Townsend Tern. Maybe that could be better stated as the final touches of the first iteration. Talking to Chelcie you get the idea that this project is far from over as all around the boat are new ideas and theories looking to be tried, tested and improved. From Kees initial drawing of a smaller Raid boat, the Townsend Tern evolved into a carbon fiber masted, cat ketch, with a high tech electric outboard drive system that pulls [...]
Wahooooo! It’s a Sunny Summer Weekend!
Lots to do this weekend. - Port to Port Race. Registration and sign ups will be at the Skipper's meeting at the Maritime Center, Saturday morning at 9:30. Race starts at 1:00 on Saturday for the hoped for downwind ride to Port Ludlow. Sunday's race starts at 9:30 for what is forecast to be a beat back to PT. We have the party barge with pizza's at Port Ludlow. Satch showed me his chart plotting and navigation skills by folding up a business card to one nautical mile and computing the distance as around 14 miles or so. [...]
Classic Mariners Regatta
Just a reminder, the Classic Mariners Regatta is this weekend. Welcome party at 6:30 at the NWMC boat shop. Last minute sign ups for the Regatta accepted.
Boat Wins! Boat Wins!
This morning it was announced that the schooner Adventuress will be awarded $125,000 as people all over the world Voted for the Boat. The campaign that Sound Experience and their Board put together was impressive. Not only will the Adventuress benefit from this award but it seems likely that the Port Townsend marine trades will as well. Three cheers, too, for American Express and Partners in Preservation for a wonderfully designed and implemented public relations event that raised awareness of the importance of preserving our historic treasures while putting the sponsors in the best light. Because of the closeness of [...]
Vote For the Boat!
In case you didn't get Kiwi's email this morning, Vote For the Boat! Only three days left and we're in a tight race with a building. Three More Voting Days Left!! We can't do this without your votes so please try and vote every day up to and including this coming Wednesday. Let all your email contacts know that we are down to the wire and need to really put on the pressure to win this competition and $125,000 from American Express. Any non voters who want to join in and help us obtain this goal please feel [...]
Vote for the Boat!
From a nice note from Elizabeth Becker ... Hello, PT Sailors! For those of you who haven’t heard, I’m delighted to announce that Adventuress is one of only twenty-five historic sites in the Puget Sound region vying for a portion of one million dollars in grant funds from the National Trust for Historic Preservation and American Express. It’s an online voting campaign and if Adventuress wins, Sound Experience is guaranteed $100,000 to spend on restoration (and shipwrights!) next winter. And right now, Adventuress is in FIRST PLACE! It's all about who gets the most votes, and we need [...]
For sale: Neil Young’s exquisite old boat
From Three Sheets NW, the Ragland is for sale again including some nice photos and a recent history of this former resident of Boat Haven. By Deborah Bach on April 26th, 2010 Walter Wallace makes one thing clear from the outset: he doesn’t like to talk about Neil Young. Yes, Wallace bought the sailboat he’s now selling from the Canadian rock legend. Yes, he’s met him. But if you’re looking for stories about when Neil Young owned the boat, how he used it, what rock luminaries might have been entertained onboard or anything along those lines, well, you’re out of [...]
Port Townsend Yacht Club Opening Day Parade
A note from Galen Peterson, Fleet Capain PTYC: Opening Day Parade will be on May 1st this year. It will start after the 12:45 PM ferry leaves the dock. A pre-parade meeting will be held on the 21st of April at 7PM at the PTYC building. Order of boats, parade route, safety, etc. will be discussed. We would love to have the PTSA be part of the parade. Please make sure we have your info if you would like to participate. Thanks!
Sunny Skies for the 2010 Shipwright’s Regatta
38 boats registered for the 19th Annual Wooden Boat Foundations Shipwrights Regatta, and even more showed up on the race course. It was a glorious February day with May weather: sunshine and enough warmth to get by with only 2 layers of clothing. AND there was wind. Not too much and not so little that you couldn’t get around the race course. The day started with Sunrise coffee at the Skippers Meeting followed by a last minute rush to sign up for the race. Four classes were delineated: Racers (A class), Cruisers (B Class), small boats (C class), [...]
Hear Ye! Hear Ye! Hear Ye!
All hands a-deck. Quimper Tars Sailing On the Bay (S.O.B.) will begin on 4th of April eve 2010 and continue through the 7th of September 2010 (every Wednesday night thruout the summr). Skippers will meet at 5pm, races to begin at 6pm. Protests (or whining, mind ye) are not allowed at these events, neither are scores kept. The PTSA does not organize or run these ‘races’, but wholeheartedly encourages able-bodied sailors to get out and enjoy the fun. PTSA membership is not required to participate. […]
19th Annual WBF Shipwright’s Regatta February 20th
Mark your calendars for the WBF Shipwright’s Regatta, this coming February 20th Start your boating season with this traditional Port Townsend regatta. Lots of fun prizes and wacky awards. Boats of all construction welcome! Skippers Meeting at 9 am at the NW Maritime Center/Wooden Boat Foundation. Race starts at 11:30 on Port Townsend Bay. Awards at the Shanghai Restaurant at 4:30. There will be a Racing, Cruising, and Inshore small boat class. […]
Lucky to Live Here!
This was the scene tonight sailing back from Mystery Bay to PT. Gotta love these moments, amidst all the stress and day-to-day rat race ... Today (Sunday, 8/2) was one of those perfect PT Days. Nice, sunny weather, good wind, good friends, and a trip down to Mystery Bay on the bristol "Havheston." We weaved through the labyrinth entrance to Kilisut on a robust flood. Upon arrival, we found Sirocco and the Vizzini/Kulin clan, an OK Dinghy, C-Lark, Nutshell Pram, Laser, Lido 14 and multiple kayaks, all filled with aquaphiles having a blast. It was just Sean and I on the [...]