Peninsula: Weather appears to be reason for latest Kalakala towing delay

NEAH BAY — Kalakala owner Steve Rodrigues visited the North Olympic Peninsula this week, and appears to be getting authorizations from the Department of Natural Resources and U.S. Coast Guard in order to tow the 1935 ferry from Seattle to Neah Bay.

Rodrigues, however, said on Thursday that his window of weather opportunity is likely to prevent him from moving the Kalakala this weekend, as he had hoped.

“We will not launch to Neah Bay this weekend,” Rodrigues said, reluctant to set a time for the tow.

While natural resources officials have given Rodrigues approval to tow the vessel to a state land location in east Neah Bay, the Kalakala’s owner said issues still remain with the U.S. Coast Guard on the best strategy to use to tow the ferry west down the Strait of Juan de Fuca in a limited 42-hour weather window.