PORT TOWNSEND — The Northwest Maritime Center has added a marine-related publication to its growing fleet of high-profile adventure races, festivals, educational programs and activities.
The nonprofit has accepted the donation of the monthly sailing magazine 48°North, and the maritime center will become the publisher of record of the 38-year-old free publication for sailing aficionados in Washington, Oregon, Alaska and British Columbia.
The magazine has been an advertiser for the maritime center’s events and has written about the center. It also has been a sponsor of the maritime center’s Race to Alaska.
“Long time co-owners and employees Richard Hazelton and Michael Collins wanted to keep the legacy of the regional publication intact and began to look for a suitable buyer,” said editor Joe Cline, who has been with the publication for four years.
“They weren’t getting the right kind of offers. They had successful collaborations with Jake [Beattie, executive director of the maritime center] in the past and the conversations began several months ago.”
The maritime center’s board of directors accepted the donation and approved the transfer June 30.
An announcement was made public Aug. 1.
Anika Colvin, maritime center communications director, said 48°North and the center share similar missions.
“This new relationship will give the [maritime center] exposure to a larger audience, helping our goal of becoming a regional entity. We want to expose our message and our programming to a more regional group. This magazine reaches those people.”
She said the publication has a long-standing relationship with traditional sailing clubs and regattas.
The magazine produces the Seattle Area Racing Calendar in January that lists all events for the year. It also aims to reach those who subscribe to a “contemporary maritime life.”
Colvin also said that readers will be interested in some of the expanded programming the maritime center will explore such as cruising rally meet-ups, seminars and longer international trips.
Cline said the change provides continuity.
“The most important thing is that this secures the legacy of the magazine in the sailing community,” Cline said. “We are in the process of exploring what a refresh means, and reassuring our audience and advertisers of the continuity. The culture of the magazine will remain the same.
“This new arrangement gives us the resources to improve our product while letting us be who are are.”
The publication has a combined print and digital readership of 40,000, it said. Its staff of four will continue to be based in Seattle and continue in their current roles, although some of the administrative and support functions will transfer to the Port Townsend campus.
The Northwest Maritime Center is home to the Wooden Boat Festival, Wooden Boat Chandlery, Race to Alaska (R2AK), SEVENTY48 and Marine Thrift, a marketplace for used tools, hardware, supplies and other types of boat gear.
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Jefferson County Editor/Reporter Jeannie McMacken can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at jmcmacken@peninsuladailynews.com.
