By: Andy CrossPosted on
Yahtzee leaving Mackaye Harbor. (Photo by Sarah Curry).
Yahtzee leaving Mackaye Harbor. (Photo by Sarah Curry).

Port Townsend certainly needs no introduction to Northwest boaters. Many profess it to be one of their favorite places to visit in the area, and we’re no different. It’s just a special, salty spot for any and all manner of sailor and boater.

We’ve visited PT countless times aboard Yahtzee and each time we find something more we like about the quaint seaside town that absolutely drips with nautical heritage, and this past stop was no different. After a raucous morning hop across the Strait of Juan de Fuca from Mackaye Harbor on Lopez last week, we settled in at Boat Haven and I made for a coffee shop and then Port Townsend Brewing to get a little work done.

Buddy boating with us on their Jeanneau 43 KaiQuest were our friends Will and Sarah from Vancouver. We were hopping our way down to Seattle for the boat show together (they’re with Hydrovane Self Steering, booth 2212) and they’d never visited PT before, so we figured it was our duty to show them around — which we were happy to do.

While waiting out a gale and lots of rain, we spent two days cruising Water Street and Uptown, stopping for happy hour and visiting the Northwest Maritime Center. As many first timers are, they were smitten by the charm of the place and, like us all, I’m sure they’ll return again.

Carol imparting some of her wisdom and playing with the boys on the loft floor.
Carol imparting some of her wisdom and playing with the boys on the loft floor.

As usual, one of our favorite stops in town was to see our friend Carol Hasse at Port Townsend Sails and her iconic sail loft overlooking Point Hudson Marina and Admiralty Inlet beyond. Jill and I had a few questions for Carol and Will and Sarah were getting a sail quote, but as usual, most of the fun was chatting with her again and hearing how she was doing. If you’ve never been to the loft before, it’s worth poking your head in. Or better yet, attend one of her seminars during the Wooden Boat Festival.

Porter and Magnus had a blast sliding around on the clean floor.
Porter and Magnus had a blast sliding around on the clean floor.

Our next stop was just steps from the sail loft door down on the docks to get a winter tour of the schooner Adventuress and hear how her many maintenance projects were taking shape. Catherine and Zoe from the Sound Experience were kind enough to show us around, give us some history and introduce us to some of the folks entrusted with caring for this 103-year-old beauty.

The schooner Adventuress dressed in her winter cocoon.
The schooner Adventuress dressed in her winter cocoon.

Adventuress is always an impressive boat to see, but getting an inside look at how they keep her in tip top condition was absolutely fascinating. They’d just completed a weekend-long volunteer work party and from fresh varnish to sanded spars, she was looking every bit the part of a lovingly cared for schooner. And Porter had a blast climbing around on deck, checking out everything down below and, of course, seeing the engine.

Fresh varnish and paint is all part of the winter project schedule.
Fresh varnish and paint is all part of the winter project schedule.

After our visit to Adventuress, the hole in the weather that we’d been looking for seemed to open up and, along with a favorable tide, Yahtzee and KaiQuest pushed on to another one of our favorite stops, Port Ludlow.

If you’re heading to the Seattle Boat Show (January 29 to February 6) come check out our seminar “Cruising with Kids in the Pacific Northwest” on Friday, January 29 at 4:15 p.m. on Stage #3 in the North Hall, or meet us for happy hour at the Sails & Ales event on Friday, February 5.

Categories: Places