Northwest Maritime Center Spring Boating Symposium By Captain Howard Edson


L-R: “Ocean Watch “ (Around the Americas), “Tugnacious,” Nordic Tug 26,’ and “Tethys.”


I decided to subordinate my budget


to learning and signed up for the first Spring Boating Symposium in Port Townsend, sponsored by the Northwest Maritime Center, March 18-20. Their webpage enticed me, saying “An innovative blend of interactive lectures and workshops, on board boat demonstrations, and opportunities to rub shoulders with other boaters and experts.”.To my delight, Jake Beattie (new director of the NW Maritime Center), Kaci Cronkhite (driving force for the symposium) and a bevy of presenters and volunteers under-promised and over- delivered for all their weekend visitors. There were about 140 participants, ranging from ages 14 to over 70, from various parts of the U.S., and countless years of boating experience. Presenters gave content-


48° NORTH, APRIL 2011 PAGE 56


rich presentations and sprinkled them liberally with advanced tips, candid


opinions and hard-won lessons. I thought I knew a lot about boating but on topics from navigation, anchoring, rigging, sails and trim, electricity and systems, and offshore cruising, I took copious notes and later highlighted them. One of the great things


Lin & Larry Pardey spoke daily throughout the symposium, taking time to autograph their more than 10 titles and multiple videos


about boating is the learning is endless. But the learning here wasn’t just intellectual, it was practical. Lynn and Larry Pardy and Mark Schrader gave the audience goose bumps with pictures and stories of their passages around Cape Horn from East to West (the hard way). Lynn delivered a heartfelt presentation, relating and connecting their sailing experiences to the wisdom she and Larry had found during their lifetime of voyaging. Mark Schrader and crew from the Around the Americas


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