Pocket Yachter Members

Bonnie Lass is the original prototype for designer Iain Oughtred’s Caledonia Yawl. She was built in 1988 by Ernie Tarr of Gloucester, MA. Her origin was nearly lost to history, until her story was rediscovered in 2023 by Drew Britten, her 4th and current owner.

Roger and Jo came to Port Townsend in 1993 so Roger could attend NW School of Wooden Boat Building and they never left. Their current boat is Come What May, a Walkabout, designed by John Welsford, launched in 2020. Photos by Galen Piehl.

I built this in wood first to make a plug. Made a mold and glassed all the parts in vinylester with some carbon fiber. She is a Catboat rig and easy to rig and sail. She’s fast as well. She has plenty of sitting headroom, a berth for two and a hidden galley for cooking.

s/v PickPocket is a canoe yawl designed by Wm. Garden and published in his 1977 book Yacht Designs. He traces its roots to George F. Holmes who is described as the father of the canoe yawl and Albert Strange who played a key role in developing the type.

The current humble web master, Max Stevens lives in Seattle but the origins of his interest in boats can probably be traced back to the 18 foot sailboat his grandfather built. Right now he and his wife enjoy Loyal, their 22’ Devlin Surf Scoter, from its home port in Des Moines.

Marty is a long time resident of the Pacific Northwest, an early member of the Pocket Yachters, and is an experienced boat restorer and builder. His current project, and future pocket yacht is Mouse, a lapstrake gunter yawl, 14’ on deck and 20’ overall including bowsprit and boomkin.

Opus is an 18.5’ Iain Oughtred-designed Wee Seal, owned by Lee Bjorklund and Larry Goerss. Opus lives in Seattle and usually sails Lake Union, Lake Washington and the Salish Sea. She’s participated in every Palooza, Crooza and Salish 100 to date…and many more to come.

Kirk is a long time Port Townsend resident, avid small boater, and one of the founding members of the Port Townsend Pocket Yachters. His current pocket yachts are a Flicka 20′ moored at the Boat Haven, which he cruises regularly.

Ellie is a John Welsford designed Navigator yawl built by Joel Bergen in Mukilteo, Washington. With no formal boatbuilding or woodworking training, Joel began solo construction of Ellie in October of 2009 and finished 20 months later. Ellie sports a sliding gunter rigged main, roller furled jib and sprit-boomed mizzen, all rigged for easy access from the cockpit.

Modified Bolger Micro built in my garage here in rural Alberta near Edmonton. Sails from Duckworks. 4 hp Yamaha. Currently building a helm with wheel steering. Finding it hard to raise the mast and will depend on the outboard for propulsion this year.