This year, four remarkable guests are traveling from the UK to join us at the Wooden Boat Festival,  sailmaker and historian Mark Shiner from Orkney, Scotland, maritime author Julia Jones, master knot tyer Sue Pennison, and Lola Morgan from Swallow Yachts. These international experts were encouraged to attend by our friends at Women in Boatbuilding (WIBB), because they believe the Port Townsend experience is simply too valuable to miss.

This journey to Port Townsend from across the pond began with a single introduction made a few years ago.

While looking for ways to bring more women working in the marine trades into the Festival conversation, former Festival Director Kaci Cronkhite introduced me to Belinda Joslin, founder of Women in Boatbuilding in the UK. At the time it seemed like just a simple, sweet introduction. Looking back, it was the beginning of something much larger.

That first conversation led to 6 Women in Boatbuilding members traveling to Port Townsend to present at the Festival in 2024. They returned home inspired by what they experienced here, and we stayed in touch, sharing ideas, cheering each other on, and finding new ways to connect our communities. The next year, they introduced us to HMS Victory shipwrights Betzy and Clem, who came and participated in the shipwrights events. And that’s how Julia, Mark, and Sue found their way to us this year.

Inspired by their experience in Port Townsend, Women in Boatbuilding created a Wooden Boat Stage at the Southampton International Boat Show. This fall, I’m honored to head to the UK and speak on that stage myself. 

One conversation changed everything. The most valuable things we create at the Wooden Boat Festival aren’t boats, sails, or events it’s the connections. 

— Barb Trailer, Festival Director