PORT TOWNSEND — The sponsors of the inaugural Spring Boating Symposium, which takes place this weekend, are hoping the event will provide a bookend for the more general-interest Wooden Boat Festival, which occurs each fall.
“The Wooden Boat Festival is open to anyone who is interested in boats,” said Northwest Maritime Center board member Peter Geerlofs, who helped to develop the boating symposium, scheduled Friday through Sunday at the Northwest Maritime Center, 431 Water St., Port Townsend.
“The symposium is more technical and specific, where people can learn how to refine their skills and how to navigate specific conditions,” Geerlofs said.
The symposium also is more exclusive and expensive because it’s limited to about 200 people and carries a $275 registration fee for members and $295 for nonmembers.
Although most of the symposium is restricted to participants who are paying the full freight, the general public can attend two evening lectures.
The Friday and Saturday evening presentations, both at 7 p.m. on the second floor of the maritime center, are open to the general public for a $30 admission fee.
On Friday, Lin and Larry Pardey will present “The Compelling Power of Adventure.”
Kaci Cronkhite, director of the Wooden Boat Festival and the boating symposium, described the Pardeys as “the most prolific sailing writers and voyagers in the world.”
She said their presence is drawing many others to the symposium.
On Saturday, Capt. Mark Schrader, a two-time record-holding solo circumnavigator, will talk about his most recent scientific and educational voyage around North and South America.
Geerlofs said he would like to make future symposiums more open and use a model based on the Port Townsend Film Festival “where people can attend some events without having to pay for the whole thing.”
“This is the first year, and it will evolve,” he said.
Geerlofs does not expect a lot of people to bring their boats to the symposium, saying more participants will arrive by car “and patronize some of Port Townsend’s restaurants and hotels.”
In one way, the symposium is also more inclusive than the Wooden Boat Festival — which is scheduled Sept. 9-11 — since the participants study techniques that pertain to metal boats.
During the symposium, nine special boats will be featured, allowing attendees hands-on access to the latest innovations.
All boats feature special rigging, heating, electronics, canvas, design considerations and have cruised Pacific Northwest waters.
One of these boats is Geerlofs’ own, The Seaduckteress, a 50-foot yacht that incorporates solar power and other energy efficiencies.
For more information, visit www.woodenboat.org or phone 360-385-3628, ext. 106.
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Jefferson County Reporter Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at charlie. bermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
