A Legacy of Adventure and Discovery: Remembering Jim Whittaker, Board Emeritus
Jim Whittaker’s influence on our organization lives on not only in the stories we tell, but in the very shape of who we are. At 97, he leaves behind a...
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WHO WE ARE
We’re many things, but at our core we are an organization that uses transformative maritime experiences to educate, inspire people to adventure, and celebrate our maritime culture.
We do it for our own love of boats, in service to our community and maritime industry, but mostly because regardless of the subject…
“THE SEA IS THE MOST POWERFUL TEACHER WE KNOW.”
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Learning by Doing: A Student’s Role in Oyster RestorationBy Ave Arroyo, PTMA Student Spring is just around the corner and our young oysters are at the beginning stages of life! Larvae and young spat have begun sprouting on the... -
Volunteer Bulletin - March 2026Lots of kudos this month! From event support to hands-on care and behind-the-scenes expertise, our volunteers continue to show up in big ways. We’re so grateful for the time, talent,... -
Youthful Inspiration: She Tells Sea Tales 2026At Northwest Maritime, connecting communities with the sea is what gets us up in the morning—making the blue parts of the map feel like home and weaving maritime stories, stewardship,... -
Northwest Maritime Welcomes Three New Members to Its Board of DirectorsNorthwest Maritime is pleased to announce the addition of Stephanie Gale, Peter Mann, and Eric King to its Board of Directors, expanding the organization’s 22-member board with three leaders who... -
New Tax Laws and Charitable Giving: The Good NewsYou may have just filed your tax return and are now thinking about what the rest of the year looks like. Here are some possibilities to consider: Generosity gets a break,... -
Building Confidence, One Boat at a TimeInterview with Joel Arrington, Boatshop Manager Over the past few weeks, instructors worked alongside juniors and seniors from the Port Townsend Maritime Academy for an intensive Boatbuilding Unit, a four-week... -
Rowing like an OlympianBy Noah Seixas, Rat Island Rowing Imagine jumping into a new sport and, within a week, finding yourself participating with an Olympic bronze medalist. That is just what happened for a group... -
Volunteer Bulletin - February 2026Volunteer Opportunities She Tells Sea Tales Our beloved annual event, She Tells Sea Tales, on March 7 is sold out—but you can still be part of it! We’re looking for dishwashers to... -
Smash Subscribe Like It’s 40,000 BCLong before phones, comments sections, or anyone got mad about a halftime show, Race to Alaska’s troglodyte origins were born, a couple poorly-prepared Homo erectus maniacs chasing the same mammoth.... -
Pathways Evolve at Maritime High SchoolBased on four years of Maritime High School program implementation and outcomes from our first graduating class, Northwest Maritime is working in close partnership with Maritime High School to refine... -
All Hands on Deck: Mid-year Updates at Maritime High SchoolUpdate from October 31st–January 29th (Quarter 2)By Nalani O’Brien, Maritime Education Instructor Our students are fully immersed in their maritime studies as we pass the halfway point of the school year,... -
Blue Schools Initiative | January NewsletterWelcome! You're receiving this email because you have been involved with Northwest Maritime’s Blue Schools Initiative. For that, thank you for your continued support of maritime, hands-on learning, and your... -
Director’s Log for January 2026: Sabbaticals and Auld Lang SyneHello, Maritime Friends! I hope your holidays were wonderful and that you are eeking every last bit of cheer out of the season: wringing the carton for the last drops of... -
Team Longboat: Winter Maintenance in the BoatshopBy Sonia Frojen, Team Longboat Instructor Team Longboat has been working hard in the Northwest Maritime Boatshop on longboat maintenance, a yearly tradition of the class. By taking care of our... -
Celebrating 2025: A Letter From Northwest Maritime's CEOYuletide greetings, Maritime Friends! We’ve reached the dark time of the year where daylight is measured in minutes and time is measured in remaining shopping days. It’s a natural time of... -
Northwest Maritime Launches Hands-On Olympia Oyster Restoration Project in Partnership with Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe and Puget Sound Restoration FundNorthwest Maritime (NWM) is excited to announce a new partnership with the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe and Puget Sound Restoration Fund (PSRF) to bring a pilot project in seasonal Olympia oyster... -
Persistence Through DiscomfortBy Chrissy McLean, Career Launch Manager For Jenna Recker-Hiegel, “persistence through discomfort” has been one a major theme in building her skills into a professional maritime career. “Living in the PNW,... -
Reframing Bear: A Look Behind the ScenesOur 26-foot longboat, Bear, is back in the Boatshop for her annual haulout—and this year, she’s getting some extra love. During routine maintenance, our team uncovered areas of rot that... -
Volunteer Bulletin - November 2025By Tracy Thompson, NWM Volunteer Coordinator Volunteer Opportunities Help Reframe Bear Bear, one of Northwest Maritime’s longboats, is in the Boatshop through January, undergoing a substantial reframing job. This 26-foot open boat is... -
Shop with Purpose: Top Holiday Gifts for Mariners, Adventurers, & Nautical NerdsShop local, shop meaningful—every purchase supports Northwest Maritime’s Mission. This season, shop with impact. Looking for something special for the sailor, sea lover, or maritime history buff in your life? Our... -
Full Steam Ahead: Quarterly Update from Maritime High SchoolQuarterly Update from September 3rd -October 31st (Quarter 1) By Nalani O’Brien, Maritime Education Instructor It Is Just the Beginning! The school year is off to a strong start at Maritime High School!... -
Bravo, Team Longboat—We're Back on the Water!Fall arrives in many forms--one of those is our Thursday longboating class, known as Team Longboat. Middle and high school students from the OCEAN alternative program in Port Townsend School... -
Forging a Future: Jared’s Journey from PTMA to Port Townsend FoundryBy Anika Colvin, NWM Communications Director When I sat down with Jared, a 17-year-old senior at Port Townsend High School, I was struck right away by how confidently he spoke about... -
Volunteer Bulletin - October 2025By Tracy Thompson, NWM Volunteer Coordinator 2026 ADVENTURE RACE DATES! First Up: SEVENTY48 Race Start: Friday, May 29, 2026 – 7 PM Volunteers welcome a SEVENTY48 racer to the finish line. An epic test of... -
Volunteer Bulletin - September 2025By Tracy Thompson, NWM Volunteer Coordinator THANK YOU, WOODEN BOAT FESTIVAL VOLUNTEERS! Phenomenal. The outpouring of support for this year’s Wooden Boat Festival was truly astounding. More than 600 individuals volunteered, stepping into... -
I Want to Go to Maritime High SchoolWashington State Ferries and Maritime High School Classroom on the Water Any experienced mariner will tell you, each time you step aboard a boat there’s a learning opportunity—Northwest Maritime doesn’t declare... -
With Gratitude: A Look Back at Wooden Boat Festival 2025What a weekend! The 48th annual Port Townsend Wooden Boat Festival was nothing short of extraordinary. Fog, rain, or shine—you showed up. For three days, the waterfront came alive with... -
The Countdown Begins: 2026 Race Dates AnnouncedMark your calendars—Race to Alaska and SEVENTY48 are back in 2026, and race dates and details have just been announced. SEVENTY48 launches first: Friday, May 29, 2026, at 7 PM from... -
Volunteer Bulletin - August 2025By Tracy Thompson, NWM Volunteer Coordinator VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES Ship Simulator Docents Needed Train with the best of them and run our Ship Simulator for the public! After special training, our Ship Simulator Docents will... -
The Ultimate Guide to the 2025 Port Townsend Wooden Boat FestivalWelcome to your ultimate online guide to this year's most anticipated wooden boat celebration! Explore the highlights, special events, and activities of this year's festival. Plan your experience with our... -
Maritime High School 2024–2025: End of Year RecapBy Nalani O'Brien, Maritime Education Instructor As the sun sets on an incredible year at Maritime High School, we’re proud to share the waves we’ve made across all four grade levels.... -
Navigator Night Out 2025: Of Colossal Squid and Bluewater DreamsBy Len Maranan-Goldstein, NWM Senior Philanthropy Advisor Question 1: What does a baby colossal squid have to do with Northwest Maritime? Answer 1: Quite a lot, as it turns out. Schmidt Ocean Institute's Eric... -
First-Time Boat Owner's Foray Into Boat Repairs and Lessons LearnedBy Rachel Bradley If you’ve ever spent time on the water or been around boats, you might know the feeling of looking at a vessel and falling in love. I had... -
Volunteer Bulletin - July 2025By Tracy Thompson, NWM Volunteer Coordinator VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES Volunteer at the 48th Wooden Boat Festival! Wooden Boat Festival volunteers in the Ticketing area will work with Captain Natasha Maduska. Join us in celebrating the... -
Team Longboat: Dabob Bay AdventureThree days on the water, two nights under the stars, and one unforgettable adventure. This year, Team Longboat journeyed from Quilcene to Dabob Bay—eleven students, three adults, and two charismatic parrot... -
The Long Way Starts Now (Tomorrow)The first of the boats racing in WA360 have rolled into town. Now is the moment when things click into focus. The prep’s been done. The gear’s packed. The start... -
Team Longboat: The Purple Martin Bird Box ProjectWhat you’re seeing are Purple Martin Bird Boxes, built and placed here by Team Longboat, a Northwest Maritime Program for OCEAN students, with help from Rainshadow Bird Alliance. For more information... -
Maritime High School Celebrates Inaugural Graduation ClassMaritime High School Recognizes the Class of 2025 as First Graduating Class Maritime High School (MHS), a regional choice public high school in Des Moines, WA, marked a historic milestone on... -
Visitor Services Provided By Northwest Maritime In Port TownsendCity of Port Townsend is partnering with Northwest Maritime for visitor services at the Welcome Center on Water Street. Northwest Maritime (NWM) has entered into an agreement with the City of... -
WA360: The Race That Accidentally Made Everything Make SenseBy Jesse Wiegel, Race Boss Race to Alaska and SEVENTY48 are doing just fine, thanks. They’ve got international hype, a cottage industry of waterproof documentary crews, and a crowd of dedicated... -
Volunteer Bulletin - June 2025By Tracy Thompson, NWM Volunteer Coordinator VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES Volunteer at the 48th Wooden Boat Festival! Join us in celebrating the 48th Wooden Boat Festival by volunteering during the first week of September! Shifts... -
SEVENTY48 2025: “Triple By-Pass” and the Row to RememberBy Oliver Laurence, Team Rhythm and Resilience Some races are just about distance.Others are about speed. The SEVENTY48 is about heart. About grit. About water, darkness, tides, and the quiet roar of... -
Thank You, SEVENTY48 Volunteers!Thanks From Volunteer Coordinator Tracy Thompson SEVENTY48 wrapped up on Sunday, and what an incredible gift of support our volunteers provided to this effort of grit and courage. A dozen folks traveled... -
There Goes the Neighborhood: WA360 “Welcomes” R2AK Veterans For a Lap Around WashingtonR2AK Tracker Nation! It’s been a decade since R2AK’s first hold-my-beer and cross-your-fingers hoo-rah, where the rapscallion fringe launched into Alaska, history, and glorified oblivion. It was epic, again, and again,... -
Charting the Course Together: How the Blue Schools Initiative is Redefining Community CollaborationBy Katelyn Kean, Associate Director of Development & Government Relations What if every young person had a clear pathway into a thriving maritime future—one that connected classroom learning through hands-on experience,... -
Countdown to SEVENTY48 2025By Jesse Wiegel, Race Boss Northwest Maritime exists for one reason: to get you on the water and mildly obsessed. Whether you're here to learn, mess around, build a career, or... -
Volunteer Bulletin - May 2025By Tracy Thompson, NWM Volunteer Coordinator VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES Leadership Roles Available at the Wooden Boat Festival The 48th annual Port Townsend Wooden Boat Festival takes place this year on September 5-7, and we... -
Spring is in the Air—and on the Water! Quarterly Update from Maritime High SchoolAs we conclude our third quarter, students in all grades have engaged deeply in hands-on learning, industry collaboration, and real-world maritime experiences. This quarter has been a powerful demonstration of... -
Why Capsize Drills?By Chrissy McLean, NWM Career Launch Manager The water temperature is 47 degrees, your boat is flooded to the gunnels, and your crew is… smiling? Telling jokes? It sounds like you’ve... -
Volunteer Bulletin - April 2025By Tracy Thompson, NWM Volunteer Coordinator HAPPY VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION WEEK! Volunteers assist Northwest Maritime in nearly every aspect of our programming, and we are especially grateful to them all during Volunteer Appreciation... -
Girls' Boat Project: The Sparkly Sea Slugs' Journey to the WaterBy Madison Maxwell, Girls' Boat Project Instructor What were you doing in middle school? I certainly was not holding power tools while wearing safety goggles in a boatshop. But this group... -
Volunteer Bulletin - March 2025By Tracy Thompson, NWM Volunteer Coordinator VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES Seeking regional (and local) postering assistance! We are hoping to get our fabulous WA360 poster posted in places where boaters, paddlers, and interested race... -
Charting the CourseOur 18 11th-graders participating in the MHS Vessel Operations, Design, & Maintenance pathway in partnership with Seattle Maritime Academy (SMA) are almost halfway through their two-year program. -
PTMA: Boats launched for maiden voyages around Point HudsonEver wondered what it would be like if you could substitute your average high school class to learn boat building skills in a boatshop perched on the shores of the... -
Volunteer Bulletin - February 2025By Tracy Thompson, NWM Volunteer Coordinator VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION Welcome Center Assistance Appreciated A dedicated crew of ongoing volunteers are instrumental to staffing our Welcome Center. Special appreciation goes out to Mari Friend... -
Printing the Sea: The She Tells Sea Tales Art StoryWritten by Eden Murrayhttps://www.edengrace.ca Hi there! My name is Eden, and I made a lino reduction print for the She Tells Sea Tells poster this year! The piece is named... -
Volunteers are at the heart of the Northwest MaritimeBy Tracy Thompson, NWM Volunteer Coordinator Pictured above (l-r) Volunteers Anne Jimenez, Kit Evans, Carl Berger and Patti Rowdabaugh assisted with WBF 20224 Lifetime Achievement Awards ceremony. Volunteer Opportunities Weekend Welcome Center volunteers... -
PTMA: Stars, Charts and Digital Navigation“I can plot courses on paper charts, identify latitude and longitude on a chart and explain the difference. I know the vessel rights of way hierarchy relating to the rules... -
2024—what a year!Hello friends! I’m not sure about your family’s traditions at this time of year. For me, it's a time of connecting with family, avoiding fruitcake, then pouring a hot toddy and... -
Volunteers power Northwest Maritime all year long.By Tracy Thompson, NWM Volunteer Coordinator Thank you! Northwest Maritime is able to achieve its mission to engage and educate people of all generations in traditional and contemporary maritime life, in... -
Team Longboat: Rowing together, growing together“…We all row as a part of Bravo Team, a part of Bravo Team, a part of Bravo Team. We all sail as a part of Bravo Team, a part... -
Port Townsend Maritime Academy’s Largest Class Ever Begins Their Maritime JourneyPort Townsend Maritime Academy’s (PTMA) Class of 2025 have taken to the stage in style, being the largest class size in PTMA history. Our students come from across the western shores... -
Adventure Awaits: Team Longboat’s Season is Underway!“…And we’re bound away for Austraaaalia!” We are three weeks into Team Longboat (formerly Bravo Team) with a motley crew of brand-new folks and seasoned returners! The returning crew has stepped... -
Ready for WA360? Applications Open November 15!WA360 is finally back after four long years, and the cannon fires at 11 AM on June 28, 2025. If you missed it the first time or you’re looking for... -
Sparking Curiosity in the Maritime Discovery ProgramWhat’s the salty equivalent of a jack-of-all-trades? A Maritime Discovery Program student. Master-of-none, however, might only apply since they’re often 5th graders. Each spring and fall, school groups from near... -
Northwest Maritime partners with WA State Ferries to develop "Classroom on the Water" program for MHS studentsIn their first week of school, Maritime High School (MHS) 12th graders had the opportunity to take their Classroom to the Water and spend the week with Washington State Ferries... -
A Future in Maritime Careers: From First Festival to Summer Camps and PTMA then Cal MaritimeBy Mary Rothschild Because Northwest Maritime has had so much to do with the young man Matt is today, I wanted to update you on where he has landed. After graduating in... -
WA360 Returns in 2025The wait is over. We've been dropping hints, teasing the possibilities, and now it’s time to reveal the details of the next bucket list item that Northwest Maritime has cooked... -
Maritime High School Partners with Harbor Island Shipyard to Launch New Marine Construction PathwayMaritime High School (MHS), a public choice school in the Highline School District operated in partnership with Northwest Maritime, Port of Seattle, and the Duwamish River Community Coalition, announces the... -
August is Make-a-Will MonthWhether you’re 18 or 80, everyone needs a will, no matter how much money you might have. Now is a great time to gain peace of mind by planning for... -
The Ultimate Guide to the 2024 Port Townsend Wooden Boat FestivalWelcome to your ultimate online guide to this year's most anticipated wooden boat celebration! Get an exclusive preview of a story from the soon-to-be-released festival program. Explore the highlights, special... -
The Heartbeat of Northwest Maritime: Stories from Our VolunteersBy Roberta Sommer, NWM Volunteer Coordinator We know well that the power of volunteers catapults the reach of our events and programs to more people throughout our region. For most of... -
Maritime High School Students Complete Year One of Marine Engineering ProgramOur intrepid cohort of 17 Maritime High School juniors completed the first half of their two-year Marine Engineering Tech program at Seattle Maritime Academy (SMA). All the students have either... -
MHS Mentors Connect Students to Maritime CareersMaritime High School’s Mentorship Program is an important component of the school’s educational design. Paired with professionals from across the maritime field, students explore career paths while practicing networking skills... -
Salish Sea Expeditions: Curiosity at Seaby Simona Clausnitzer, School Programs Manager As the evening dusk lingers, stars begin to appear in the sky. Students gather on deck—it’s been an action-packed day of sailing and science, but... -
Charting a Course: The PTMA Pathway to Maritime CareersBy Robin Mills, NWM Program Director Pride, inspiration, and validation. I felt all of it and more tonight at the end-of-the-year celebration for the Port Townsend Maritime Academy (PTMA), our maritime... -
Summer Fun at Northwest MaritimeThis summer, make your way to Northwest Maritime’s Port Townsend campus for memorable maritime adventures. Perfect for day-trippers or those seeking a casual visit, our summer activities offer something for... -
Girls' Boat Project: Launching Sea StarOver the past few weeks, we have been working hard to wrap up all our projects. First, it was all hands on deck to assemble and glue up tool trays.... -
Bravo Team's Five-Day Island AdventureWith calloused hands, warm hearts, and soaring spirits, Bravo Team returns from Journey! Five days out in the islands and four nights under a blanket of stars have left us... -
R2AK VIII: Race PreviewIn 2015, the Race to Alaska was unleashed like a rubber duck in a tsunami. It grew from a wild dare to a testament of human grit and marine mastery,... -
SEVENTY48 2024: Paddles Up, Community StrongSince its inaugural splash in 2018, SEVENTY48 has evolved from a daunting challenge into a yearly beacon for the PNW paddling community. This isn’t just a race; it’s a rallying... -
Northwest Maritime’s Welcome Center Debuts May 9Northwest Maritime Center will celebrate the opening of its new Welcome Center on May 9 with a Grand Opening celebration for the community. The former “Chandlery” store space has been transformed... -
Bravo Team: Preparing for Adventure in the San Juan IslandsBravo Team is excitedly preparing for adventure. With most of the students onboard to head up to the San Juan Islands in early May. We have been working hard to... -
Girls' Boat Project: Shop Skills, Sun, and SkiffsHappy Spring! As the days get longer and warmer, the girls have been expanding on their shop skills and spending time out in the sun too. We are all looking... -
WA360 Adventure Race Returns Summer 2025WA360 will return next summer. WA360 is 360 miles of engineless, unsupported boat racing through the worst and most diverse water puzzles Washington State offers. -
Bravo Team: Sailing into SpringWith longer days and warmer weather on the way, our band of singing, sailing, and rowing comrades are merrily, cheerily refining our maritime skills aboard our trusted vessel Townshend. -
Maritime High School 11th Graders Earn Merchant Mariner CredentialsOur 18 11th-graders participating in the MHS Vessel Operations, Design, & Maintenance pathway in partnership with Seattle Maritime Academy (SMA) are almost halfway through their two-year program. -
Join Us at the Maritime Career Fair!Northwest Maritime Center is all about connecting people to opportunities on the water. That's why we're excited to invite you to our Maritime Career Fair on Saturday, March 16, from... -
New Volunteer Opportunity: Join the Welcome Center Team!Just a little too much time on your hands? Enjoy engaging with people in a fun environment? Want to share your knowledge of our historic region, the sea, or boating... -
Girls' Boat Project: Hands-On Learning & Heartfelt FunOver the past 6 weeks, the girls have been getting to know each other, our boat, and many of the tools in the shop. We began with the foundations of... -
Bravo Team: Hoist the Sails and Sing Along!Bravo Team Sea Shanty (Sung to the melody of Yellow Submarine) In the town where we all live There is a boat that sails the winds We pack the cart and wheel is there Jump... -
Dylan Rondeau Remembered with Community InvestmentsRondeau Family Creates Funds at Northwest Maritime Center and Jefferson Community Foundation The family of Dylan Rondeau has chosen to honor his life by making two $100,000 gifts, one to Northwest... -
Port Townsend Maritime Academy Students Earn Drill Conductor CardThis year’s Port Townsend Maritime Academy (PTMA) students recently completed six weeks of training to earn their Alaska Marine Safety Education Association (AMSEA) Drill Conductor Card. This US Coast Guard-approved... -
Experiential Exploration: 9th Grade at Maritime High SchoolBy Joe Cline, Managing Editor of 48° North Application Window for New Students Open Until January 31, 2024 Think back to the start of high school. Did you have options? Many students... -
Bravo Team: Wood Ships and FriendshipsThere are good ships, and wood ships, the ships that sail the sea, but the best ships are friendships, and may that always be! And then there are wood ships! Anyone... -
Girls' Boat Project 2024For girls age 11–14 (6th–8th grade) Registration for our spring sessions is now open! Girls' Boat Project meets on Wednesdays from 1:30 to 4:30 PM from April 10 through May 8,... -
Winter Construction Will Bring Welcome Changes to Northwest Maritime CenterWe’re excited to announce plans to begin construction on two major projects this January, including a major remodel of the former Wooden Boat Chandlery space and a beach repair project!... -
Cummings Makes $25,000 Gift and Challenges Community to Support Real World Readiness ProgramLong-time Northwest Maritime Center donor and volunteer Sigrid Cummings has made a $25,000 gift to support the organization’s expanded Real World Readiness program, and invites the community to match her... -
Historic Vessel from NWMC Takes Center Stage in New Museum ExhibitA historic boat from Northwest Maritime Center’s collection will be getting its time in the limelight with a new exhibit at Seattle’s Museum of History & Industry (MOHAI). The Husky... -
Port Townsend Maritime Academy Students Dive into Outboard OperationsThis month Port Townsend Maritime Academy students have been working through their Outboard Operations Unit. Students pair up as helm and crew in Kachemak 10ft inflatable aluminum hulled boats to... -
Bravo Team: Learning the RopesNothing like closing out the year with full steam, as our group of young longboaters literally learns the ropes. Bravo Team is in full swing, and getting the feel for... -
Bravo Team is Back on the WaterLeaves are changing color, days are getting shorter, and Bravo Team is back on the water! We have a full team of middle and high school students from the Port... -
SEA Marine Makes Gift to Maritime Discovery ProgramFull service boatyard SEA Marine has made a $30,000 gift to the Northwest Maritime Center’s Maritime Discovery Program. The gift, given over three years, will help underwrite the cost of... -
Dorjun’s New AdventureWhen Emilia met Dorjun, neither of them knew that seven years later, they’d be embarking together on a new adventure. Once a shy and soft-spoken 7th grader, Emilia Ramsey first came... -
Port Townsend Maritime Academy Kicks Off the 2023-2024 School YearPort Townsend Maritime Academy is kicking off the 2023-2024 school year with a whole host of fresh new faces, and a few familiar ones. Our students come from as far away... -
Maritime High School announces partnership with the Seattle Maritime AcademyInnovative and groundbreaking—a partnership between Highline Public Schools, Northwest Maritime Center, and Seattle Maritime Academy (SMA) has officially been established to further address the increasing need for maritime employees. Since opening... -
Towboat Golf Classic 2023September 15, 2023 | The Golf Club at New Castle Formerly the Towboat Golf Invitational, this annual maritime networking and fundraising event now benefits Maritime High School. Foursomes and sponsorships are filling quickly. Reserve... -
Applying Real-world Learning to a Seattle Waterfront Redesign10th-grade Maritime High School Students Dive into Urban Development This last spring, Maritime High School's 10th-grade students completed an inspiring waterfront design project that showcased the true power of project-based learning... -
MHS Mentor Highlight: Kimberly Cartagena, Centerline LogisticsI found out about Maritime High School during its ideation phase and it was exciting to see it come to fruition. I was approached by MHS administration about becoming a...
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A Successful Spring for Salish Sea ExpeditionsBy Dustin Vail, Salish Sea Expeditions Operations Coordinator Salish Sea Expeditions' spring programming has officially lowered sail for the season… but what an incredible season it was! From March to June... -
From Classroom to Coastline: A Look at the Achievements of PTMA GraduatesThis week, twelve students became the most recent graduates of our Port Townsend Maritime Academy (PTMA) program, run in partnership with West Sound Tech and the Port Townsend School District.... -
Bravo Team: Setting Sail on the Historic Schooner MarthaLast week, Bravo Team was invited to sail on the 1907-built B.B. Crowninshield schooner Martha. This was the culminating visit after Bravo Team contributed to re-rigging and refreshing Martha for... -
A New Perspective: Bravo Team's One Day JourneyWe had a hatch full of snacks, a forecast for sun and light wind, and a small boat to adventure in—Bravo Team was ready for our full-day expedition! We were... -
Race to Alaska 2023. Get Ready.By Jesse Weigel, Race Boss Somewhere between the harbour of Sydney, Australia (where one aspirant still hasn’t begun his solo ocean crossing to the start line), and a country lane just... -
Maritime Opportunities for High SchoolersDo you know a high schooler who is interested in the sea or a maritime career? Check out these exciting opportunities that are accepting applicants now! Dock Attendant We are in our... -
Bravo Team: The Garry Oak ProjectBy Sean Bunting, Bravo Team Instructor Every year, Bravo Team donates time to an environmental project, giving something to the local community and strengthening the health of our local ecology. In... -
Get Your Tickets to Foulies & Food TrucksOn April 14, join us down on the banks of the Duwamish at SeaTac Marine Services in your foul weather gear and get ready for a memorable and one-of-a-kind evening... -
Real World Readiness: Expanded OpportunitiesThe Real World Readiness (RWR) program started in 2018 as a partnership between the Northwest Maritime Center and Jefferson County Juvenile Services to create the opportunity for youth connected to... -
Bravo Team: Confidence GrowsBy Sean Bunting, Bravo Team Instructor You get to a certain point in an undertaking where things start to get easier. Bravo Team, as a crew, has definitely put the work... -
Keeping the Fleet Afloat: Winter Maintenance Season at NWMCThe smell of sawdust, paint, and epoxy is in the air. We're in the midst of fleet maintenance season here at the Northwest Maritime Center and that means a busy,... -
Register Now for 2023 Youth Summer Camps & Classes!Registration for our youth summer camps and classes is now open, and we have some exciting new changes and updates to share with you. First off, we are offering double the... -
Learn-by-Doing: Maritime High School Students Dive into the Maritime IndustryIt’s almost mid-way through year two of Maritime High School (MHS), and the 9th- and 10th-grade classes have been busy engaging in frequent boat-based learning trips and field experiences with... -
Bravo Team: Haulout for the New YearBy Sean Bunting, Bravo Team Instructor Sometimes it’s best to start a new year fresh. Bravo Team took this idea and ran with it (rowed with it?) all the way to... -
Bravo Team: Winter on the WaterBy Chrissy McLean, Bravo Team Captain This year's Bravo Team crew has been practicing the art of shoulder season on the water. We have been lucky in dodging the winter storms... -
Girls' Boat Project: Transom Building & Tool Practice!By Taylor Austin, Girls' Boat Project Instructor Over the past few weeks in the shop, the group has been focused on skill-building and practicing with various tools as we continue building... -
From Messing About in Boats to Cal Maritime CadetSpeech by Matthew Rothschild, NWMC Program Alumnus & Cal Maritime Academy Student, from Navigator Night Out 2022 I graduated in 2020 from Port Townsend High School and the Port Townsend Maritime... -
The Race to Alaska Movie: Now Available On-DemandCreated by R2AK Film Boss Zach Carver and his team of filmmakers, The Race to Alaska movie is a visceral film showcasing the camaraderie of the racers and the competition of the... -
Bravo Team: Becoming a TeamBy Sean Bunting, Bravo Team Instructor It’s that time of year again. Driving rains reinvigorate dry ground, bitter winds gust through the land, wood stoves across the state are reawakened—and two... -
Girls' Boat Project: Boatshop Basics & Bandsaw Practice!By Taylor Austin, Girls' Boat Project Instructor Since our last update about the Girls’ Boat Project return, we have been getting underway familiarizing ourselves with the tools in the shop, the... -
Girls’ Boat Project Returns!This week on Wednesday, October 5, we had our first meeting of the Girls’ Boat Project program for this season! With eight students and two instructors, we are stoked to... -
Back to School, Maritime-StyleThe smell of fall is in the air, which means students in Northwest Maritime Center’s (NWMC’s) partner programs are back in the classroom and in the field. In both Port... -
NWMC Hosts Teaching With Small Boats Alliance Conference this NovemberBy Jake Beattie, Executive Director “The sea is the most powerful teacher we know” is something we say at the Northwest Maritime Center because we believe it to the core. The... -
Salish Sea Expeditions: Manson Options School, May 2022By Abbie Smith, SSE Program Manager Back in May, a group consisting of 7th, 8th, and 9th graders from Manson Options School boarded schooner Zodiac for an expedition for the first... -
The “Lesser Known” Heroes of Race to AlaskaBy Daniel Evans, Race Boss For the first half of 2022, the Northwest Maritime Center has been putting out a beehive’s worth of activity: sailing and cruising camps, a solid finish... -
Canoe do it? Yes, we can!By Tyson Trudel, Maritime Education Manager In January, Maritime High School’s (MHS) inaugural class began their third project of the year—exploring the topic of vessels and voyages, looking at different vessel... -
Salish Sea Expeditions: Hyla School, June 2022By Abbie Smith, SSE Program Manager We ended our spring season with a four-day trip on Schooner Zodiac with a group of 6th, 7th, and 8th graders from Hyla School. We... -
Maritime Discovery Program: Revived After a Three-Year BreakBy Nancy Israel, Education Program Co-Manager The Maritime Discovery Program was very successfully revived after a three-year break! This year, we worked with 20 Quilcene Middle School 7th and 8th graders... -
Maritime High School Kayaking TripBy Danika Brown, Maritime High School Student Blogger Another great field trip awaited us Maritime High School students as we got our foul weather gear and got prepared to go kayaking... -
SEVENTY48: Medals made from other metalsBy Daniel Evans, Race Boss Love and joy never really come up in phrases involving SEVENTY48, and only to say things like, “It was such a joy not to race this... -
Race to Alaska: Replacing Doomscrolling with High FivesBy Daniel Evans, Race Boss Artisanal cheese. Guns N’ Roses. Corn smut. Race to Alaska. At first glance, these are really bad ideas, but GNR won the World Music Award... -
Salish Sea Expeditions: Odyssey Middle School, April 2022In April, Odyssey Middle School joined Salish Sea Expeditions on an adventure to Blake Island. Two groups of seventh and eighth graders explored the Canada goose-covered island for one night... -
Bravo Team: hosting an adventure!Bravo team ended their year together with a one day journey from Point Hudson to Rat Island (about a mile across the bay). We were excited to spend the day... -
Manson Construction Site VisitBy Danika Brown, Maritime High School Student Blogger At 8:30 am, my fellow Maritime High School students and I got our foul-weather gear packed up in our bags and got our... -
Maritime High School Collaborator Spotlight: Vashon Nature CenterVashon Nature Center’s mission is to provide transformative nature experiences through research, education, and community science for the benefit of our island home and the entire Salish Sea. We conduct... -
Let's Build a Canoe!By Danika Brown, Maritime High School Student Blogger We started working in the woodshop on February 28, and my fellow classmates and I were thrilled to be working there. With a... -
Artwork Inventory Crew ROCKED IT!In the waning days of 2021, we put out an unusual volunteer request—an all-points bulletin for a small team to inventory the collection of artwork and nauticalia that has gathered... -
A Volunteer Update From Our Public Engagement Manager“Volunteering is the ultimate exercise in democracy... you vote in elections once a year, but when you volunteer, you vote every day about the kind of community you want to... -
Maritime High School Collaborator Spotlight: Samantha Griswold of GlostenI work as a Marine Engineer at Seattle-based maritime consultancy, Glosten. I grew up on the south shore of Long Island, New York, where I spent every summer boating in... -
Old & New Traditionsby Mara Mersai, Maritime High School Student Blogger Hello! Mara Mersai here. Over the school year, MHS students have been interviewing people about their role from different parts of the maritime... -
Bravo team: slow is smooth and smooth is fastBy Chrissy McLean, Bravo Team Co-Captain There is a saying that slow is smooth and smooth is fast. According to the internet, the saying originated with the Navy Seals. In any case,... -
First Fed Gives $1 Million to Northwest Maritime Center to Expand AccessWe have some exciting news to share! First Fed Bank, which has been an incredible supporter of the Northwest Maritime Center and our programs and events for many years through... -
Ask an Expert Presents: LGBTQ+ and Finding My Way in the Maritime IndustryBy Susan Brittain. Get your free ticket to the LGBTQ+ panel with Susan Brittain on March 17 here! “I believe that no one should ever have to choose between a career we... -
Meet Joel Arrington: Boatshop Manager, Class Instructor, and Fly Fishing ExtraordinaireJoel Arrington is the instructor of our Boatshop Workshops at the Northwest Maritime Center. We sat down with Joel to learn a little more about him, what drew him to... -
Maritime High School Collaborator Spotlight: Brian Kirk of WA State Department of EcologyMy name is Brian Kirk. I’m fortunate to be the Spill Prevention Section Manager with the Washington State Department of Ecology’s Spill Prevention, Preparedness, and Response program. Washington has some... -
Plastics Are a Problem: Our Unit on Plastic PollutionBy Chanel Young, Maritime High School Student Blogger Sometime after we returned from winter break, we started working on our social media campaign (humanities class) and ROV (Remotely Operated Vehicle) boat... -
Maritime High School Collaborator Spotlight: Amanda Carr of Plauché & Carr LLPWhen I learned of plans to open a regional Maritime High School using hands-on, project-based learning to create access to local maritime careers, I jumped at the opportunity to serve... -
New School, New Start at MHSBy Giselle Esparza, MHS Student Blogger My name is Giselle Esparza, and my experience at Maritime High School has been great! Previously, I attended a massive school in Arizona where it... -
Bravo Team- Confidence and Leadership GrowsBy Nancy Israel, Bravo Team Co-Captain Bravo Team this year is a group of creative and caring middle and high school students from Port Townsend's alternative learning program, OCEAN. We've really... -
Girls' Boat Project is Back!We are so excited to finally restart our Girls Boat Project program this week! In the Girls’ Boat Project, middle school girls gain skills and have fun in the maritime trades. They learn woodworking and boat maintenance... -
New Year, New Hotel: The Swan Joins the NWMC Family!Happy New Year! We bought a hotel! You probably already know, as we announced our intentions back in June, that the future of our growing campus includes the Swan Hotel—a 13-room... -
Preserving the Old While Building the New: The Schooner Martha Main Mast ProjectBy Joel Arrington, NWMC Boatshop Manager, and Robert d'Arcy “Built in 1907 for San Francisco Yacht Club Commodore J. R. Hanify, and named after his wife, Martha Fitzmaurice Hanify, Martha is... -
Maritime High School Collaborator Spotlight: Wilbur "JC" Clark of Pacific Pile & MarineMy name is Wilbur Clark. I am the Chief Operating Officer for Pacific Pile & Marine, a heavy-civil marine construction firm based in the South Park neighborhood of Seattle. I... -
Onboard the Admiral JackBy Mara Mersai, Maritime High School Student Blogger Hello! Mara Mersai here. Sometime after the beginning of this quarter, we were introduced to voyage planning, where we learned about the different... -
Bravo Team...All Skills Are Learned SkillsI have a personal philosophy: all skills are learned and anyone can learn a skill. This doesn't mean that everyone masters a skill easily, but that we all have the... -
Akeyla Behrenfeld: SEVENTY48 Is Only The BeginningSpeech by Akeyla Behrenfeld from Navigator Night Out 2021 Hello, my name is Akeyla Behrenfeld. I am 14 years old, and I participated in two of the SEVENTY48 races the Maritime... -
Chuck Henry, Volunteer of the YearChuck Henry moved from a small midwest town to Port Townsend in 1977, and that same year, he and his wife happened to attend the first Wooden Boat Festival by... -
Introducing the Maritime High School Bloggers!Hello! My name is Mara Mersai, and I am one of the bloggers for Maritime High School (MHS)! What interested me to choose MHS is that it focuses more on...
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The High School Sailing Team's Fall Season is in Full Swing!By Alyce Flanagan, High School Sailing Team Coach, and Ace Spragg, Adult Programs Manager Sailors Lhotse Rowell and Sevryn Rust hike out as they come into pressure at sailing practice on... -
Field Trip On a Boat? Yes!By Nancy Israel, Education Program Manager In October and November this year, up to 240 8th graders from six middle schools representing diverse communities south of Seattle have been given the... -
Maritime High School Collaborator Spotlight: Lindsay Holladay Van Damme of foundry10I have dedicated my career to inspiring the next generation of ocean-lovers. From feeding wolf eels underwater and talking with guests as an aquarium interpretive diver, to answering questions about... -
Maritime High School Collaborator Spotlight: Joe Youcha of Building to TeachMy name is Joe Youcha. I’m the Founder and Director of Building To Teach, a train-the-trainer program for hands-on math instructors, and a proud community collaborator of Maritime High School.... -
The Port Townsend Maritime Academy is Back in SessionBy Colleen O’Brien (NWMC Instructor for the PTMA) You know that moment when perspective happens? When enough time has passed to inform your opinion, your success (or failure)? That’s where we... -
The First Month of School at Maritime High SchoolBy Tyson Trudel, Maritime Education Manager After months of work and through the combined efforts of the lead partners—Highline Public schools, Northwest Maritime Center, Duwamish River Clean-up Coalition (DRCC), and Port of Seattle—Maritime High... -
Meet Point Hudson's New Dock AttendantsWe are excited to be partnering with the Port of Port Townsend this summer to provide Dock Attendants for Point Hudson! Four young people, some of whom have been students...
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Open Window SchoolWho enjoys a three hour bus ride? Enthusiastic students from Bellevue's Open Window School that's who! A group of 31 excited sixth graders came to Northwest Maritime Center on June... -
7th Grade Maritime Discovery Program 2021Considering the pandemic circumstances, we were thrilled to offer a modified Maritime Discovery program with the Port Townsend School District/Blue Heron Middle School in June. Our main goals were fun,... -
WA360 Race Recap: Finding Community and Connection in Our Home WatersWhat started as a substitute race for the second year of cancelling the Race to Alaska, became an adventure that blew away expectations and had racers and fans alike enamored...
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NWMC Campus Update: Big News!Hello Friends, Let's be honest, there's a lot going on. SEVENTY48 just happened and WA360's 1st place team, High Seas Drifters, finished two hours ago, living up to their boat's name... -
A Year Like No Other: Port Townsend Maritime Academy 2021By Kelley Watson of West Sound Technical Skills Center and the Port Townsend School District Needless to say, the two staff and fifteen students from this year's Port Townsend Maritime Academy... -
Maritime High School Collaborator Spotlight: Thomas Barrett of Manson Construction Co.As a company that started tending to the Seattle waterfront in 1905 and has been a fixture of the Duwamish River community for the 116 years since, you might understand our feeling... -
A raingarden makes a big difference!Each year, Bravo Team studies both maritime expedition skills and our marine environment. As we build our knowledge of the Salish Sea, we consider service projects that we could complete... -
WA360: A new adventure starting June 7, 2021WA360. A celebration. An adventure. 360 miles of engineless, unsupported boat racing, circling Puget Sound. We stole the framework of Race to Alaska, because the Canadians still won’t let us...
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Real World Readiness: Encouraging consistency, competency, and connectionIntro by Sonia Frojen, School Program Coordinator Real World Readiness (RWR) is a Northwest Maritime Center job-readiness program for adjudicated youth that encourages consistency, competency, and connection. One of our students... -
Bravo Team is Back!On March 4 Bravo Team students and instructors happily reunited at NWMC! Students from the OCEAN program at Port Townsend School District have been meeting online every Thursday all school... -
Marvelous Mistakes and the courage that followsA glimpse into the powerful project-based learning students will experience at south King County’s new Maritime High School starting this fall. Stephanie Burns is an educator with 25 years of experience... -
Say hello to our new COOHello Friends! I want to introduce you to our newest member of the leadership team: Katie Oman who has just accepted the position of Chief Operations Officer here at the Maritime... -
Studying the Salish SeaBravo Team has been meeting weekly online since September. While we'd all prefer to be on the water, we are enjoying this time to learn more about where we live-... -
Bravo Team Adapts to the TimesGreetings! It's been a while since our last post back in mid-March. Bravo Team started up again in October with a virtual format. We meet every Thursday on Zoom for... -
Kelley Watson and the Port Townsend Maritime Academy GraduationKelley Watson reflects on the Port Townsend Maritime Academy school year and graduation. I had forgotten until last night that our first week of school, we didn’t even have classroom space.... -
Rowing, Sailing and SingingLight north wind, sunshine, flood current and tide rips made for a good longboat adventure today. After settling on a date for our Beach Clean up and picking our sweatshirt... -
GBP: Framing our Skunk Island SkiffOur March 5th meeting of Girls Boat Project brought teamwork towards progress on our Skunk Island Skiff. Last week we attached the bottom, this week our focus was to install... -
Planning DayIt was a windy day in Port Townsend Bay and Bravo Team was held ashore. Our COI (Certificate of Inspection) states that we aren't able to head out in over... -
Sunshine, Shanties, and Skiff BuildingThe last meeting for the month of February brought sunny skies for us to enjoy and planning for us to look forward too. As we all assembled, we discussed our... -
What Are Your Echos?Sunny winter weather continued this week, so Bravo team was out on the water again. We are working towards a 5 day journey this spring and each week we build... -
Beach Time, Boat TimeFebruary sunshine in the northwest is a magnet like nothing else, drawing sun starved northwesterners outside like moths to a flame. This week it was so nice out that we... -
Good Day SunshineIt was sunny, the wind was light, and we had just launched our freshly painted and oiled boat Townshend- what could be better than heading out for an afternoon on... -
Onward Winter MaintenanceFor the past two weeks, the girls have focused on maintenance of our boat, Onward. We spent time last week sanding and varnishing oars. This week, we painted the hull... -
Environmental Project Planning DayBravo Team took advantage of a shore day due to a small craft advisory to dive into planning our environmental project. We also took some time to go out to... -
Splash and HaulBravo Team has been waiting for this day for over a month. After spending four weeks working on Townshend in the NWMC boatshop, today we were able to splash her back...
48° NORTH MAGAZINE
ARTICLES
- Lessons Learned on Our Big Left Turn
by Simon Lilley on April 9, 2026 at 12:00 pmSitting in the cockpit at anchor in the peaceful laguna at Barra de Navidad, Mexico, I’m listening to the ker-splash
- Celebrate Gray Whales this Weekend in Langley
by Editor on April 8, 2026 at 1:04 pmOrca Network and the Langley Chamber of Commerce is hosting the annual Welcome the Whales Parade and Festival this weekend,
- Hikes for Boaters: Cape Caution to Shearwater
by Michael Boyd on April 7, 2026 at 12:00 pmThe Central Coast of British Columbia is the region between Cape Caution—approximately opposite the northern tip of Vancouver Island—and the
PROJECTS OF
NORTHWEST MARITIME
WOODEN BOAT FESTIVAL
The headwaters of NWM began in 1977 with the first Port Townsend Wooden Boat Festival. 45 yeas later, what started as a bunch of wooden boat hippies around a campfire has grown to the largest event of its kind in North America.
RACE TO ALASKA
Born in 2015, R2AK is North America’s longest human – and wind-powered race: 750 cold water miles from Port Townsend, WA, to Ketchikan, AK.
$10,000 first prize; second prize: a set of steak knives.
THE SWAN HOTEL
The Swan Hotel is a historic 13-room boutique hotel adjacent to our main campus.
We purchased it in 2021, and its revenue supports our programs and mission.
48° NORTH
For over 40 years, 48° North has stood as the premier sailing magazine for he Pacific Northwest.
In 2018, it integrated into Northwest Maritime to expand its reach, formats, and content.
SPONSORS
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