48 North

Editor’s Note: One of the most heartening developments in the marine world over the last few decades has been the creation, growth, and expansion of an array of dedicated maritime education opportunities for young people. These programs not only provide incredible experiences and career pathways for students, but also frequently strengthen bonds between existing entities, businesses, and organizations in the maritime sphere.

The docks in Ketchikan are quiet. The finish line bell is hanging moribund upon its post. The remaining beers are sitting around, warm by now because nobody has been down to check on the ice. Meanwhile, several thousand tracker enthusiasts are using industrial-strength Visine in a spray bottle to continue staring intensely at the four remaining dots moving north. Like they have been for three weeks. The winning sailboats finished in a quarter of that time.

Editor’s note: Regular readers may recognize JJ and TC from our My Boat series, as well as a few race reports. They’re passing details of life aboard to a shoreside comms team, who is putting together delightful daily updates, like the one that follows, covering the day they started Hello again you beautiful people. Sorry this Day 1 update is late, we have heard little from the crew so far as they get into their groove. We’ve all had vacation planning oversights.

I don’t remember when it started, but Tekla and I, along with our friends Al and Sue, have been talking about taking a canal boat trip in Europe for several years. What an adventure it would be. Somewhat suddenly, it came up again this spring when Alan mentioned that he’d been looking at tour companies and places online. One night, he called saying he found a canal boat experience in France that looked interesting and that the company’s booking schedules were filling fast.

Is it all sunset cocktail cruises and rippin’ downwinders and rainbows and kumbaya? Well, not exactly… But of the many positives that come with my cherished role at 48° North, the opportunity and privilege to sail different boats with different people is one of the best.

The following details about this new tax are courtesy of Northwest Marine Trade Association (NMTA): Starting July 1, 2026, an additional tax of 0.5% applies to each retail sale of a recreational vessel in Washington State. The tax is due at the time of purchase or at the time of first use in Washington. This new tax is the result of legislation adopted in 2025 after lawmakers sought additional revenue for the state’s transportation budget.

TowBoatUS Sointula is now on the water, assisting recreational boaters around Malcolm Island, including the community of Sointula off the British Columbia coast. The port is led by Capt. Pasha Barlak, a Sointula native with roots in the Malcolm Island fishing community.

Having sailed a variety of boats from 10 to 100 feet, my default preference is a small-to-midsize monohull keelboat with performance chops. Cruising catamarans are seldom at the front of my mind, though I know they intrigue many fellow sailors. So when Tre, an old pal and new owner of an Excess 11 catamaran, invited me to go sailing, obviously I said yes; but my excitement was driven by the opportunity to discover something outside my comfort zone. I’m late to the party on the Excess 11.

I never expected to have 413,625 pets, but this season at Northwest Maritime (NWM), we did just that. By “pets”, I mean Olympia oysters, and by “we” I mean an enthusiastic team of students, volunteers, staff, and community partners. Jests aside, raising hundreds of thousands of native oysters from free-swimming larvae to spat (baby oysters attached to shells) has been one of the most rewarding projects I’ve ever had the honor of contributing to.

Refinishing teak decks, including sanding, cleaning, resealing, and replacing bungs improves the external appearance of your boat but also keeps it watertight. We’ve all heard the saying that when it comes to cruising there is nothing more dangerous than being on a schedule. The temptation to adopt one is rampant and relentless.