POULSBO — After rolling out the red carpet for 30,000 festival-goers, Vikings and area royalty, Poulsbo will soon be extending the gangplank to accommodate its next round of guests.
In less than a week, Liberty Bay will be filled with boaters from across the nation as Trawler Fest makes its 10th visit to Little Norway on June 7.
The five-day event, which made its first stop in Poulsbo in 1995, caters to boaters and those who are interested in boating but aren’t sure if they’re ready to set sail.
“The goal is to have a lot of one-on-one interaction and be able to enjoy great camaraderie with other trawlers,†said Amy Pinter, events coordinator for PassageMaker magazine, which is sponsoring the event.
Even though the magazine recently took over sponsorship of Trawler Fest, Poulsbo is expected to remain the event’s only West Coast stop.
Other fests are held at several ports along the East Coast and on Lake Michigan in Wisconsin.
“We believe it’s a combination of costs and location that make Poulsbo such an appealing destination,†Pinter said.
Both hotels in Poulsbo, the Holiday Inn Express and the Poulsbo Inn, are offering special rates for Trawler Fest participants and reservations are strongly encouraged.
“We’re expecting to continue having about the same number of participants we’ve had in the past, which is about 400 to 450,†Pinter said.
While Trawler Fest won’t officially begin until June 9, Bob Smith, the developer of the Ford Lehman diesel engines, will present a diesel engine class from 8:30 a.m. to noon and 1:30-5 p.m. June 7 and 8. The schedule for the main event which buoys up June 9 is as follows:
June 9
8:30-10 a.m.
• Medical issues for cruisers by Dr. Kevin Ware
• The dynamics of marine propellers taught by Richard Chandler
• Cruising north: exploring the Broughton Islands taught by Mark Bunzel
10:30 a.m. to noon
• Ladies Roundtable
• Keeping your pride and joy, aka, your boat, safe, taught by Mel Kowal
June 10
8:30-10 a.m.
• Yacht selection. Finding the right boat for you, taught by Peter Pisciotta
• Trawler FAQ, taught by Bob Smith
• Cruising to Alaska: tips and tactics, taught by Bob Duke
10:30 a.m. to noon
• Seawoman 101, taught by Capt. Nancy Erley
• The ins and outs of PC-based navigation, taught by Scott Bulger
• B.C.’s secluded mid-coast inlets, taught by Jennifer and James Hamilton
June 11
8:30-10 a.m.
• How to anchor, taught by Capt. Nancy Erley
• Using your radar effectively, taught by Capt. Kevin Monahan
• Understanding stabilization of boats, taught by John Allsop
10:30 a.m. to noon
• Docking simplified, taught by Peter Pisciotta
• Keeping your boat legal, taught by Curt Epperson
• Local knowledge: managing tidal rapids, taught by Capt. Kevin Monahan
