In 1935 William Fife III, aged 78, designed one of the sailing world’s most admired ocean racing yachts, Latifa. She was one of his all-time favorites. Today, we’re standing next to this legendary 70 foot yawl. launched in 1936, and in the loving care of past and current owners ever since. Now she’s in the boat yard at Pete Stein’s Co-op for maintenance. Unlike many large yachts of her era, she’s been in commission since her launching. Port Director and xo-host Eron Berg gives his monthly report, and then KPTZ’s Chris Bricker and Port Commissioner Pam Petranek meet up with shipwright Robert D’Arcy, the project’s lead, along with Jasper, the yacht’s young Captain for a conversation about this storied vessel.

In this episode of Our Working Waterfront, Port Director and co-host Eron Berg gives us his monthly update, and then KPTZ’s Chris Bricker and co-host Port Commissioner Pam Petranek visit with Tucker Piontek.  He’s an instructor at the Northwest School of Wooden Boat Building. Tucker’s relationship with boats began with childhood and young adult adventures on rivers, lakes, and coastal waters. As many young sailors have done over the years, he sailed into our town, fell. In love with it, and discovered the Boat School.  He’ll tell us about how his unique career journey led him later on to becoming an instructor there, his thoughts on craftsmanship and mentor relationships, and how he and three classes of students built the Nordic Folk Boat Fern, which rests on the hard for final touches before she’s shipped out to the lovely man who had commissioned her. Fern is destined to live on the Great Lakes as the Boat School’s “Ambassador.”

Left Coast Charters is a small family business that offers a unique and intimate experience aboard the traditional catboat Katie M. Captains Erik Brown and his wife and business partner, Alyce Flanagan, are at the helm, and they love meeting and interacting with their clients. Sharing their knowledge and experiences of sailing and the sea is what they love to do!

Each month, KPTZ’s Chris Bricker along with co-hosts Eron Berg, Port of Port Townsend’s Director, and Port Commissioner Pam Petronek, bring you news, updates and stories surrounding our vibrant maritime community. This month, historic Hollywood shines its spotlight on our boatyard with a visit from the brigantine staysail schooner, s/v Destiny. She’s been on the hard for repairs and further customization before she slips back in the water early June. Eron briefs us on goings-on around our busy Port, then Chris and Pam talk with the vessel’s new owner Tom Helton and the Shipwright Co-Op’s Dave Griswold about Destiny’s colorful history and the current repairs and modifications that are underway. Tom shares his plans for high seas adventures soon to become a become a reality. If Preston Sturges, Humphrey Bogart, Howard Hughes, and John Wayne ring your ship’s bell, then be sure to tune in and find out more!

Celebrating the New Point Hudson Jetty. KPTZ’s Chris Bricker rides along with co-hosts Port Commissioner Pam Petranek and Port of Port Townsend’s Director Eron Berg on the MV Saratoga, a custom-designed 149-seat catamaran built by All American Marine. On board were federal, state, and local elected officials, along with all of those whose hard work and support made it possible to celebrate the completion of the Point Hudson Jetty Replacement Project.
Because of everyone involved, under the leadership of Eron Berg and staff, our port’s Capital Projects Director Matt Klontz, the tenacity of Deputy Port Director Eric Teows, and with our community’s unwavering support, the effort was completed on time and under budget! At the vessel’s bow, our Port Commissioners Pete Hanke, Pam Petranek, and Carol Hasse cut a ceremonial ribbon made of sail trim sewn by the Sail Loft  The ribbon stretched across the entrance to the harbor prior to the on-shore celebration. As part of the project, with the support of the regulatory agencies, workers created a rock reef from original jetty rock. Prior to the old breakwater’s demolition and for two months, over 4,000 invertebrates were carefully relocated to the new reef by volunteer divers. Find out more about the Underwater Camera and get an exiting view of rotating reef locations by visiting the Port of Port Townsend’s website.

Port of Port Townsend’s Director Eron Berg gives us a report on the exciting happenings and latest news for the month of April. Then his co-hosts, Commissioner Pam Petranek and KPTZ’s Chris Bricker take students from the Port Townsend Maritime Academy out on the boatyard and marina to visit Rick Oltman, owner of F/V Cape Clear and PTHS graduate Eric Pokorny, who has recently earned his 100-ton Captain’s License. They visit the legendary shipwright Dave Thompson, and then young shipwright Pete Stein for a tour of his 10-person co-op – a shared space for independent shipwrights.

Each month, KPTZ’s Chris Bricker and his co-hosts, Port of Port Townsend’s Director Eron Berg and Port Commissioner Pam Petranek cover the waterfront — its boats, its people and their stories. Eron gives us this month’s update about goings-on about our Port.  Then Pam and Chris bring you a reprise broadcast about their visit aboard Arningali, a 38-foot Orca Sailing Cutter, with owner Kevin Stearns and friend Sally Harden, along with shipwright Ryan Chadwick (pictured above) from Cape George Boatworks. Port Townsend is “The City of Dreams,” and dreams are at the heart of our waterfront community. We’ll learn about how a 40 year old dream has finally come true!

As Peter Marsh, journalist and Volunteer Director of Astoria’s Hawthorn Cannery Museum writes, “The Hawaiian Chieftain, a classic sailing ship with a bright yellow hull and traditional square rig, has been a popular sight on the waters in the Pacific Northwest for almost 30 years. But wherever it went, this unique steel vessel was often overshadowed by its wooden partner Lady Washington -the state of Washington’s official historic tall ship.” As we stand in the Boatyard below the Chieftain’s steel hull, we’re about to take a tour with Arren Day (pictured above), Lead Shipwright for the Chieftain’s restoration, and one of the twelve partners of the Port Townsend Shipwrights Co-Op. We’ll learn about some of the ship’s history and witness the work of the incredible variety of Boatyard artisans involved with the project. We’ll also find out what may be in store for her once the Hawaiian Chieftain’s owners take her back to her birthplace in Lahaina, Hawaii.

KPTZ’s Chris Bricker joins co-hosts Eron Berg, Port of Port Townsend’s Director, and Port Commissioner Pam Petranek to explore people, boats and stories surrounding our Working Waterfront. Nestled in along the Working Waterfront and across from the Boat Haven Marina, the aromas of freshly baked muffins and fresh coffee spill from the windows and doors of the Marina Cafe. The eatery, run by Jen Takaki and Shawn Meyer, serves up hearty food to a mixture of shipwrights and town folk rolling through for coffee and a muffin, a take-out special, or a sit down breakfast or lunch. Part of the week, there’s even an evening tapas menu. We thought we’d stop in today and visit with Jen, Shawn, and some of the regulars to see what hopes and dreams lie ahead for 2024.