ONE OF MY favorite sights on the North Olympic Peninsula comes when I return to my hometown of Port Townsend.
I’ll be motoring along in my car, having successfully navigated the now-nearly 5-year-old roundabouts on the entrance to town, when the first flash of Port Townsend Bay unfolds to my right, dappled with the bright, billowy sails of numerous sailing vessels.
Now, this picture-postcard, chamber-of-commerce-style image is better served by warm summer weather and a brisk westerly wind. But sailboat racing can be a four-season activity.
The 24th annual Shipwrights’ Regatta, set for Saturday, Feb. 28, proves this.
Boats of all construction are welcome to participate in the regatta, and those wishing to try sailboat racing but lack the most obvious prerequisite, a sailboat, are welcome to join a crew.
Nonboat owners are encouraged to show up and get connected with skippers looking for crew at the skippers meeting in the Northwest Maritime Center’s red-colored Chandler Building at 431 Water St. in Port Townsend at 9 a.m. Feb. 28.
Last-minute boat registrations will be accepted before the skippers meeting from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m.
Registration forms are currently available in the Wooden Boat Chandlery or upstairs at the Northwest Maritime Center.
Complimentary coffee will be provided courtesy of Sunrise Coffee.
A free haul-out will be awarded to two lucky sailors, courtesy of SEA Marine and the Port of Port Townsend.
The race itself begins at noon on Port Townsend Bay.
An awards ceremony back at the Northwest Maritime Center is planned for 4 p.m., with awards, beer and snacks planned.
For more information, phone Catherine Leporati of the Northwest Maritime Center at 360-385-3628, ext. 104, or email catherine@nwmaritime.org.
Forks hunter education
An upcoming hunter education course will be held in Forks at the West End Sportsmen’s Club starting Monday, March 2.
The class will meet from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on March 2, 4, 9 and 11.
The final test is set for 9 a.m. Saturday, March 14.
Students must attend all classes for the opportunity to receive a hunter education student certificate.
State law requires all first-time hunters born after Jan. 1, 1972, to successfully complete a hunter education class in order to purchase a hunting license.
Students will receive instruction in firearms safety, wildlife conservation and sportsmanship.
The course is taught by volunteer instructors who have been certified by the state Department of Fish and Wildlife to conduct student courses.
The hunter education program is open to everyone, experienced or not.
Most students who successfully complete this course are 10 years or older.
A parent or guardian is required to attend the first night of class with juvenile students, and are encouraged to attend all classes.
Additionally, if the student is younger than 10 years old, a parent or guardian must accompany them to all classes.
Students must pre-register, and can do so by going online to tinyurl.com/PDN-HunterCourse.
For more information, phone Randy Mesenbrink at 360-374-5718.
Mesenbrink also passed on word that a live-fire field test for online hunter education students is planned for the West End Sportsmen Club at 10 a.m. Saturday, March 21.
Port Townsend hunter education
A Port Townsend-based hunter education course is set to start at the Jefferson County Sportsman’s Association on Monday, March 2.
This course will meet from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. on March 2-6, and will conduct a live fire walkthrough from 9:15 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, March 7.
Students under age 16 must attend with an adult.
The organizers of this course say the only thing you need to bring is a good attitude.
Firearms will be supplied.
Admission is by donation, with proceeds going to the association for room rental and range use.
For more information, visit tinyurl.com/PDN-HunterCourse.
Submit input
Dovetailing nicely with those upcoming hunter education courses, the state Department of Fish and Wildlife is seeking public input on proposed recommendations for the 2015-17 hunting seasons.
Fish and Wildlife will accept written comments from the public through Tuesday to help finalize proposed hunting rules and regulations for these hunting seasons.
To review and comment on the proposals, visit the department’s website at tinyurl.com/PDN-HuntComment.
“The hunting season proposals, which were developed after extensive public involvement, are also based on the objectives and strategies contained in the new 2015-21 Game Management Plan,” Fish and Wildlife game manager Mick Cope said.
The plan is available on the department’s website at wdfw.wa.gov/publications/01676.
The Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission, which sets policy for the department, also will take public comment on the proposed recommendations at its meeting at the Civic Center in Moses Lake on Friday and Saturday, March 20-21.
Final commission action is scheduled to take place at the April 9-10 meeting.
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Outdoors columnist Michael Carman appears here Thursdays and Fridays. He can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5152 or at mcarman@peninsuladailynews.com.
