NO. 2 HAS a new name.
Westport Shipyard on Wednesday hauled out Astara, the second 164-foot tri-deck yacht built by Westport at its Marine Drive plant in Port Angeles.
She is owned by Orin Edson, former owner of Westport Shipyard. Until her recent name change, the vessel was known as Evviva.
She was out of the water for a scant few hours for a survey.
Safety first
Now that spring has arrived, it’s time to think about safety and sea skills while out on the water.
The Point Wilson Sail and Power Squadron in Port Townsend is now taking sign-ups for an eight-hour boating seamanship and safety course that will run April 15 and 17 from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
And the setting for the class couldn’t be prettier: the Northwest Maritime Center at the top of Water Street.
Topics will range from issues for both power and sail boaters as well as navigational rules and basic seamanship skills from anchoring to VHF radio use.
The cost of this not-for-profit course is $36, which includes a textbook. A great way to stretch the fee is to enjoy a discount for a second family member or boating partner to share the book with you.
The Point Wilson squadron’s Linda Newland is now taking registrations, and she can be phoned at 360-437-9350 for more information.
Completion of this course qualifies the student to get the mandatory Washington State Boater’s Education Card.
Platypus projects
Platypus Marine Inc., the full-service shipyard, yacht-repair facility and steel-boat manufacturer on Marine Drive in Port Angeles, hauled out Royal Mariner I, a 58-foot steel commercial fishing vessel.
I understand that personnel will be painting the boat’s hull.
Meanwhile, Platypus is working on an interesting project.
It’s Âsponsoning (industry jargon for increasing the width of a vessel) Freedom, a 53-foot commercial fishing vessel that hails from Petersburg, Alaska.
Increasing the vessel’s beam will increase her stability and load-carrying capacity.
The project began some months ago with the company’s acquisition of a fiberglass mold that was once used by a boat manufacturer in Anacortes that is no longer in business.
Verne Braghetta, who heads up Platypus’ fiberglass department, and his crew used the mold to create new topsides for the boat.
Freedom’s existing hull will have bulkheads attached according to engineered drawings provided by Tim Nolan Design of Port Townsend.
Then the topsides will be affixed to the bulkheads.
The vessel’s deck will then be extended over the edges of the new sides of the vessel, and all will be fiberglassed together.
Platypus also has a SAFE boat in the big blue Commander Building.
The aluminum boat built by SAFE Boats International LLC was brought to Port Angeles from Bremerton by trailer and is the first of eight that will pass through the Commander Building to be painted while stowed in the climate-controlled structure.
Want to race?
The folks at the Sequim Bay Yacht Club at John Wayne Marina are launching a three-part course on all aspects of sailboat racing.
Start with the first class this Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. at the yacht club, 2577 West Sequim Bay Road.
The second and third classes will be held April 14 and 28.
The classes are free and open to anyone serious about learning to race as well as to be part of a race committee.
Sequim Bay Yacht Club also is seeking volunteers to help run its races and regattas throughout the summer.
For more information about the course or to volunteer, phone Dale Dunning at 360-214-1321 or email info@opsailing.com.
PA Harbor watch
Bunkering jobs for Tesoro Petroleum in Port Angeles Harbor have been somewhat sparse of late.
Tesoro fueled Silver Cindy, a 600-foot petroleum products tanker that is flagged in the Marshall Islands, on Friday.
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David G. Sellars is a Port Angeles resident and former Navy boatswain’s mate who enjoys boats and strolling the area’s waterfronts.
Items and questions involving boating, port activities and the North Olympic Peninsula waterfronts are always welcome. Email dgsellars@hotmail.com or phone him at 360-808-3202.