Left Coast Charters is a small family business that offers a unique and intimate experience aboard the traditional catboat Katie M. Captains Erik Brown and his wife and business partner, Alyce Flanagan, are at the helm, and they love meeting and interacting with their clients. Sharing their knowledge and experiences of sailing and the sea is what they love to do!
Each month, KPTZ’s Chris Bricker along with co-hosts Eron Berg, Port of Port Townsend’s Director, and Port Commissioner Pam Petronek, bring you news, updates and stories surrounding our vibrant maritime community. This month, historic Hollywood shines its spotlight on our boatyard with a visit from the brigantine staysail schooner, s/v Destiny. She’s been on the hard for repairs and further customization before she slips back in the water early June. Eron briefs us on goings-on around our busy Port, then Chris and Pam talk with the vessel’s new owner Tom Helton and the Shipwright Co-Op’s Dave Griswold about Destiny’s colorful history and the current repairs and modifications that are underway. Tom shares his plans for high seas adventures soon to become a become a reality. If Preston Sturges, Humphrey Bogart, Howard Hughes, and John Wayne ring your ship’s bell, then be sure to tune in and find out more!
This month, historic Hollywood shines its spotlight on our boatyard with a visit from the brigantine staysail schooner, s/v Destiny. She’s on the hard for repairs and further customization before she slips back in the water very soon. Eron briefs us on goings-on around our busy Port, then Chris and Pam talk with the vessel’s new owner Tom Helton and the Shipwright Co-Op’s Dave Griswold about Destiny’s colorful history and the current repairs and modifications that are underway. Tom shares his plans for high seas adventures soon to become a become a reality. If Preston Sturges, Humphrey Bogart, Howard Hughes, and John Wayne ring your ship’s bell, then be sure to tune in and find out more!
Celebrating the New Point Hudson Jetty. KPTZ’s Chris Bricker rides along with co-hosts Port Commissioner Pam Petranek and Port of Port Townsend’s Director Eron Berg on the MV Saratoga, a custom-designed 149-seat catamaran built by All American Marine. On board were federal, state, and local elected officials, along with all of those whose hard work and support made it possible to celebrate the completion of the Point Hudson Jetty Replacement Project.
Because of everyone involved, under the leadership of Eron Berg and staff, our port’s Capital Projects Director Matt Klontz, the tenacity of Deputy Port Director Eric Teows, and with our community’s unwavering support, the effort was completed on time and under budget! At the vessel’s bow, our Port Commissioners Pete Hanke, Pam Petranek, and Carol Hasse cut a ceremonial ribbon made of sail trim sewn by the Sail Loft The ribbon stretched across the entrance to the harbor prior to the on-shore celebration. As part of the project, with the support of the regulatory agencies, workers created a rock reef from original jetty rock. Prior to the old breakwater’s demolition and for two months, over 4,000 invertebrates were carefully relocated to the new reef by volunteer divers. Find out more about the Underwater Camera and get an exiting view of rotating reef locations by visiting the Port of Port Townsend’s website.
Port of Port Townsend’s Director Eron Berg gives us a report on the exciting happenings and latest news for the month of April. Then his co-hosts, Commissioner Pam Petranek and KPTZ’s Chris Bricker take students from the Port Townsend Maritime Academy out on the boatyard and marina to visit Rick Oltman, owner of F/V Cape Clear and PTHS graduate Eric Pokorny, who has recently earned his 100-ton Captain’s License. They visit the legendary shipwright Dave Thompson, and then young shipwright Pete Stein for a tour of his 10-person co-op – a shared space for independent shipwrights.
Each month, KPTZ’s Chris Bricker and his co-hosts, Port of Port Townsend’s Director Eron Berg and Port Commissioner Pam Petranek cover the waterfront — its boats, its people and their stories. Eron gives us this month’s update about goings-on about our Port. Then Pam and Chris bring you a reprise broadcast about their visit aboard Arningali, a 38-foot Orca Sailing Cutter, with owner Kevin Stearns and friend Sally Harden, along with shipwright Ryan Chadwick (pictured above) from Cape George Boatworks. Port Townsend is “The City of Dreams,” and dreams are at the heart of our waterfront community. We’ll learn about how a 40 year old dream has finally come true!
As Peter Marsh, journalist and Volunteer Director of Astoria’s Hawthorn Cannery Museum writes, “The Hawaiian Chieftain, a classic sailing ship with a bright yellow hull and traditional square rig, has been a popular sight on the waters in the Pacific Northwest for almost 30 years. But wherever it went, this unique steel vessel was often overshadowed by its wooden partner Lady Washington -the state of Washington’s official historic tall ship.” As we stand in the Boatyard below the Chieftain’s steel hull, we’re about to take a tour with Arren Day (pictured above), Lead Shipwright for the Chieftain’s restoration, and one of the twelve partners of the Port Townsend Shipwrights Co-Op. We’ll learn about some of the ship’s history and witness the work of the incredible variety of Boatyard artisans involved with the project. We’ll also find out what may be in store for her once the Hawaiian Chieftain’s owners take her back to her birthplace in Lahaina, Hawaii.
KPTZ’s Chris Bricker joins co-hosts Eron Berg, Port of Port Townsend’s Director, and Port Commissioner Pam Petranek to explore people, boats and stories surrounding our Working Waterfront. Nestled in along the Working Waterfront and across from the Boat Haven Marina, the aromas of freshly baked muffins and fresh coffee spill from the windows and doors of the Marina Cafe. The eatery, run by Jen Takaki and Shawn Meyer, serves up hearty food to a mixture of shipwrights and town folk rolling through for coffee and a muffin, a take-out special, or a sit down breakfast or lunch. Part of the week, there’s even an evening tapas menu. We thought we’d stop in today and visit with Jen, Shawn, and some of the regulars to see what hopes and dreams lie ahead for 2024.
Join KPTZ’s Chris Bricker and his co-hosts, Port of Port Townsend’s Director Eron Berg for this month’s update, and then Chris and Port Commissioner Pam Petranek come aboard the 38ft Orca Sailing Cutter Arningali, with owner Kevin Stearns and friend Sally Harden, along with shipwright Ryan Chadwick from Cape George Boatworks. As we look around the cabin, we see superb craftsmanship and the integration of a collection of unique features from around the globe. His father’s last wish was that Kevin finish building the boat they began together over 40 years ago. Now, we find ourselves sitting aboard a stunning masterpiece!
Part Two of a special tour of Port of Port Townsend’s Boatyard with students and faculty of the Williams College/Mystic Connecticut Seaport Coastal & Ocean Studies Program. This episode is all about “the Catch” – fishing and life on the water. Hosts Chris Bricker and Port Commissioner Pam Petranek visit Brian Dafforn, skipper and owner of the Polaris, one of the twenty remaining historic vessels of the Longliner Fleet; Captain Ozzie Anderson, owner of the fishing tender Sunnyvale: and Rick Ottman, captain and owner of schooner Cape Cleare, along with crew member Kaila Janders.
