I write this newly returned to Seattle after about two weeks on the road to Kansas City and back. In short, the AWP Conference was quite invigorating and will likely inspire a few entries here down the road. The days riding over the prairie, including a blissful Valentine’s Day spent driving across all of Kansas solo, were needed for cerebral digestion.
Oh, and yes, Super Bowl Sunday was EPIC. KC is a town that really loves its football team, although you probably didn’t need me to tell you.
But whilst I was playing the inlander, quite a few magazine articles of mine were sent knocking about the published world this press cycle. Additionally, I’m pleased to announce that I won a first place in-category win last week in the annual Boat Writers International writing competition. Herein are the summaries and links for those of you who are interested.
1st Place for Immortal Words, Historic Boat
I won a first place win in the category of Boat Projects & Renovations of the annual Boat Writers International writing competition. My winning piece was Immortal Words, Historic Boat that was published by Passagemaker last year. This article wove together the ongoing story of the fishing vessel Western Flyer of Steinbeck fame with The Log from the Sea of Cortez literary classic:
“There are images in this world where one experiences a novel-
worthy story at a glance. Among these images is that of a lone derelict wooden fishing boat rotting into the sea.
Such was the state of the Western Flyer when John Gregg found her in 2015 on Swinomish Indian Reservation land in Washington state. The 76-foot vessel was barely intact after two recent sinkings. There was nothing outwardly special about the Western Flyer to separate it from the thousands of other ingloriously dying workboats of the world, but Gregg knew he had to save the boat, no matter the time or cost.
He knew the Western Flyer is the boat that author John Steinbeck, with his marine biologist friend and colleague Ed Ricketts, chartered to the Gulf of California in 1940. The expedition is the subject of Steinbeck’s book The Log from the Sea of Cortez, part of a body of work that won Steinbeck the 1962 Nobel Prize in Literature…”
The full article is available here.
You can check out the full official announcement from February 14 here.
Beat of its Own Drum, Seapiper 37 Article in Power & Motoryacht
If you can pick up the current issue of Power & Motoryacht, you’re in for a treat. I got to write an article about the Seapiper 37 in the article Beat of Its Own Drum. Will this innovative, plucky design become a cult classic or remain a quirky experiment? Much will be put to the test this summer as Seapiper owned Andre Lay aims to navigate the Northwest Passage in the Arctic. More on all this to come!
At the time of this posting, the article is not yet posted online to read.
State of Pacific Northwest Fisheries, 2024 in Fishermen’s News
A piece of mine provided a marco-level look at the state of Pacific Northwest fisheries in Fishermen’s News. In short, there is plenty going on:
“With 2023 behind us and a new year underway, we thought it was a good time to draw upon state, private sector and federal sources for a bird’s eye view of last year and what’s likely in store for 2024 in Pacific Northwest commercial fisheries.
For many in the salmon and albacore tuna fisheries, 2023 was a brutal year. Why? The big pain points appear to be off the water versus fish stock issues. Global markets have been shaken with the price of fish dropping and costs, like fuel, rising sharply.
A few new regulations came into effect, like the banning of lighted squid boats in Oregon and anti-whale entanglement regulations for crabbers.
But the news isn’t all bad. The Dungeness crab harvest is down a bit, but red rock crab seemed relatively stable in most areas. Oregon bottomfish grounds that have been closed since the early 2000s are opening with bullish black cod developments. There’s also a new intertidal cockle fishery in Tillamook Bay that some of you clammers might want to check out.
As always, we soldier on. This piece is published in the spirit of providing useful, accurate information, but by no means should be regarded as fishing advice. For your next move into whatever fishing season you’re targeting, you ought to listen to your gut, lean on experience and say a prayer. If you see albacore tuna fishermen, buy them a drink…”
You can read the entire article online here.
Still Going Places, American Tugs Cover Article in Passagemaker
It was a true pleasure to highlight local boatbuilder American Tug for their 25th anniversary. These stout, some would say timeless, designs have deep roots in maritime Ballard and the commercial fishing world:
“La Conner, Wash., sits about an hour north of Seattle, nestled amid Fidalgo Island’s tulip fields and across the Swinomish Channel from the Swinomish Reservation. This boatbuilding hub with stunning views of Mount Baker has been home to American Tug for a quarter century. Even after a recent expansion, the builder’s order book runneth over. Seven boats were finished in 2023, with another 10 poised to launch this year. The yard has around 33 employees with aspirations for 45 to 48 skilled workers.
“This is a good old-fashioned American success story,” says American Tug General Manager Troy Olason. “There’s something very simple and wonderful about that.”…”
You can read the whole story online here.
Portland Powerhouse, Schooner Creek Boat Works Article in Soundings
I had the privilege to visit Portland, Oregon’s Schooner Creek Boat Works, an institution with an epic legacy and Maui-bound luxury catamarans expertise. Heads up, there’s plenty of Portland—my hometown—pride in this one!
““When it comes to West Coast sailboat construction, images of California’s fiberglass heyday or the deep, cold waters of Puget Sound come to mind. But near the confluence of the Columbia and Willamette rivers—tucked away on Portland, Oregon’s Hayden Island, on quiet Canoe Bay—sits a boatyard many have heard of but few ever visit.
Schooner Creek Boat Works is a boatbuilder, a full-service yard and a boat dealer that non-boating locals may not know about. But thanks to new ownership and a team that includes a French commercial fisherman, the company is thriving. In addition to being a pillar of the regional boating community as a go-to yard, Schooner Creek is a lead- ing builder of large sailing catamarans. Their latest build, a 65-footer, is nearing her maiden voyage.
“Building a boat is kind of like having a baby,” says Kevin Flanigan, owner of Schooner Creek and an avid sailor…”
You can read the full article online here.
Consider buying my book, Salmon in the Seine: Alaskan Memories of Life, Death, & Everything In-Between! Available where books are sold, including Amazon, Powell’s City of Books, and Third Place Books. It’s won eight notable independent/small press book awards, so hey, it can’t be THAT bad, amirite?
You superstar!! And I thought you only knew how to grocery shop.
Ha ha. Congratulations. And wonderful to see you in Kansas City.