In early June, Charles Martin, who operates the Water Limousine from John Wayne Marina, called to let me know that there was a classic Fantail yacht named Cora Marie on the hard in the Port Townsend boatyard.
At the time I was unable to get to Port Townsend, so I called Brooks Townes, who lives close to the waterfront and asked if he would go and take a peek at Cora Marie.
Brooks, who is always looking for a quality reason to put some distance between himself and the ever-present “honey do” list, had just returned from a trip to windier climes pursuing his hobby of land sailing — and was delighted at the prospect of heading to the waterfront.
The fantail aboard a vessel, whether it is a ship or a pleasure craft, is the open section of the main deck that is farthest aft.
A classic Fantail yacht is easily discernible because the hull at the stern swoops up and aft to meet the main deck creating an elongated fantail.
The upper deck typically overhangs a portion — if not all — of the fantail and provides a perfect space for having elegant parties or taking meals when underway or while at anchor.
The fantail on these vessels can be enclosed, as is the case with Cora Marie, or open to the elements as is Northwind, another example of a Fantail yacht that currently sits on the hard at Platypus Marine in Port Angeles.
The Roaring Twenties were the heyday of the Fantail yacht.
W.C. Shelley, a prominent businessman from Vancouver, B.C., and a future provincial finance minister, had the Cora Marie built in the late twenties at the Vancouver Shipyard at Coal Harbour, from where she was launched in 1930.
The early history of Cora Marie is a bit fuzzy, but it appears that during the early years of the Depression Shelley sold the yacht to a wealthy American industrialist, Paul F. Johnson, in 1931 or 1932.
He renamed the boat Seleyen II and made a number of cruises to Alaska and Mexico — and it is believed that he also took her on a voyage to the South Pacific.
In 1942, Seleyen II was seized by U.S. Customs and placed at the disposal of the Navy, where she was used to patrol the entrance to San Francisco Bay.
In 1951, the Aluminum Company of Canada (Alcan) purchased the yacht, returning her to British Columbia where she was put to work as the regular passenger and mail carrier on the Kitimat-Kemano project in the provincial north.
Alcan subsequently disposed of her, and she languished in the Fraser River until she was purchased in the mid-1980s by J.M. Silva, who spent five years restoring her.
Brooks said that he chatted with a fellow who had an interest in purchasing the 107-foot yacht. The fellow told Brooks that Cora Marie had not been hauled out for about 15 years prior to her then-current stay on the hard, and that for the past 10 years it did not appear that she had been all that well maintained while she was moored in Cowichan Bay, B.C.
The engine room holds twin GM diesels from the 1950s, and Brooks said, “all is painted white down there — I mean everything, like they put a revolving lawn sprinkler or major mist machine between the engines and sent gallons of white paint through them.”
The craftsman painting Cora Marie told Brooks that he understood that she was purchased by an individual involved in a number of East Coast hotels and that the intention was to restore the yacht and moor her in front of one of the properties.
The classic yacht has given up her Canadian registry and is currently in transit to Miami.
Thanks and a tip of the bosun’s cap to Charles Martin and Brooks Townes for their efforts regarding Cora Marie.
Fall series
Summer is winding down, and throughout the North Olympic Peninsula schools are either back in session or going back Tuesday.
It is also the time of the year that the North Olympic Sail and Power Squadron begins offering a potpourri of boating classes to its members as well as the general boating public.
According to Ted Shanks, squadron education officer, the last cycle of classes their organization conducted was from July 2010 through August 2011.
During that time their squadron presented 16 courses that had 117 attendees with a pass rate that exceeded 95 percent.
These impressive numbers are indicative of an educational organization that is committed to teaching boating skills.
Beginning on Tuesday, Sept. 13, the squadron will present a seamanship course that will run for nine weeks.
Power-boaters and wind sailors alike will learn practical marlinespike skills, navigational rules, and nautical customs.
There will also be discussions about exercising common courtesy while on the water, the responsibilities of a boat’s skipper and operating a boat under normal and abnormal conditions.
This course in particular provides a solid foundation for students contemplating more complex courses offered by the squadron.
The cost of the course which will be held at the Rainbow’s End RV Park, 261831 U.S. Highway 101, Carlsborg, is $55.
Sept. 13 is also the first day of a squadron-sponsored course in navigation that will run for 12 weeks.
Students will be introduced to celestial theory and the use of a sextant.
They will also develop skill and precision in sight taking, positioning and the orderly methods of carrying on the task of a navigator while at sea.
The use of navigational software is explained and used in various practice scenarios for planning and navigating in an offshore environment.
The cost of the course, which includes navigational software, is $150.
The location of the course will be plotted out by the instructor and students.
For more information on either course or to sign up, phone Guy Bear at 360-670-5582.
Harbor fueling
Tesoro Petroleum on Monday bunkered Polar Discovery, an 895-foot, double-hull crude oil tanker.
Tesoro on Thursday refueled the Crowley-owned articulated tug and barge, Vision.
Tesoro also provided bunkers to Papado II, a 106-foot commercial fishing vessel that hails from Neah Bay.
Tesoro on Saturday had its refueling barge alongside BBC Leer, a Liberian-flagged container ship that is 502 feet long with a 77 foot beam.
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David G. Sellars is a Port Angeles resident and former Navy boatswain’s mate who enjoys boats, ships and strolling the waterfront.
Items involving boating, port activities and the North Olympic Peninsula waterfronts are always welcome. Email dgsellars@hotmail.com or phone him at 360-808-3202.
