The Artful Sailor

The Artful Sailor READY ABOUT! (short tack)
The Artful Sailor is a Whole Earth Nautical Supply that promotes and perpet Ditty bags of that design soon appeared all over the world.

(long tack)
The Artful Sailor is a Whole Earth Nautical Supply that evolved from the sailing, sailmaking and nautical writing career of Emiliano Marino and was founded by Pamela-Sue Alvarado. Beginning with Marino's 19th century, New England, family seafaring history and his childhood sailing experiences, his sail related evolution progressed to a sailmaking apprenticeship in 1974, in San Diego, C

A. Over the course of time, Marino went on to establish-or be party to the establishment of-several sail lofts and write a pamphlet entitled The Sailmaker's Dozen. Of global impact was a two-part article he wrote in 1979-80 for Woodenboat Magazine (Issues #31, #32), A Ditty Bag Apprenticeship. It was a hands-on fundamental course in traditional sailmaking techniques. They are still seen and made today. A similar bent was pursued through a how-to, question and answer column entitled The Sail Doctor that Marino wrote for Small Craft Journal Magazine in the late 1980's. That, in turn, led to the writing and 1995 publication of the authoritative and now widely known sailmaking treatise, The Sailmaker's Apprentice: A Guide For the Self-Reliant Sailor. The book, now in print for over 20 years, features a reprise of A Ditty Bag Apprenticeship and is intended to preserve traditional sailmaking skills. Soon thereafter, Marino revived The Sail Doctor; but in Small Craft Advisor magazine, published in Port Townsend, WA. In 2016, The Sail Doctor was re-entitled The Artful Sailor and provided with a new logo. In an easygoing way, the popular column expounds on all aspects of rigging, working and maintaining small sailing craft. With the new logo and its associated T-shirt came the inspiration for Alvarado to establish The Artful Sailor as the Whole Earth Nautical Supply it is today. The Artful Sailor is located in Port Townsend, WA, a Victorian seaport with thriving maritime trades and a large sailing community.

Hair on Fire!Two weeks and counting until the 49th Port Townsend Wooden Boat Festival takes over Point Hudson. This will...
08/27/2026

Hair on Fire!
Two weeks and counting until the 49th Port Townsend Wooden Boat Festival takes over Point Hudson. This will be The Artful Sailor’s 9th year participating in the festival. It’s an exciting time and these last two weeks are what Salty Sue calls “hair on fire” time. Lots of details and preparation goes into making it an unforgettable experience for festival goers. Look for The Artful Sailor’s shop on Pine Tar Alley, at the north end of the Sail Loft Building. The shop will be a living museum of traditional maritime arts, sights, sounds, smells and tastes. Stop by to try some authentic hardtack and smell some pine tar! You’ll be glad ya did.

Salty Sue says . . .“ We are in full swing getting ready for the PT Wooden Boat Festival coming up on Sept. 11, 12 & 13....
08/12/2026

Salty Sue says . . .
“ We are in full swing getting ready for the PT Wooden Boat Festival coming up on Sept. 11, 12 & 13. At The Artful Sailor, we do a lot of handwork and there are many details that go into our specialty items. We are in full speed production mode assembling DIY Ditty Bag Apprenticeship kits, wrapping pine tar soap, making tarred h**p knife lanyards, finishing bench hooks, marlinspike items and our one-of-a-kind Salish Sea Bags. Come visit our shop on Pine Tar Alley at the North end of the Sail Loft building. You can also enter to win a traditional handsewn sailor’s hammock. Tickets are available in the shop and during the festival. The lucky winner will be drawn the last day of the festival.”

07/01/2026
It’s almost time for our Nautical Yard Sail at The Artful Sailor! A year’s accumulation of all kinds of cool and useful ...
06/24/2026

It’s almost time for our Nautical Yard Sail at The Artful Sailor! A year’s accumulation of all kinds of cool and useful stuff, gear, sails, tools, rope etc. looking for a home and all for a song, U-PRICE IT, on the honor system. Fri., Sat. and Sun. - July 3, 4 and 5. The Artful Sailor is located at 410 Washington St. in Port Townsend, next to the skate park.

Space is limited for this Summer Sewing Machine Workshop on July 18th.  Go to: theartfulsailor.com to register and reser...
06/24/2026

Space is limited for this Summer Sewing Machine Workshop on July 18th. Go to: theartfulsailor.com to register and reserve your spot.

First Saturday ArtWalkThe Artful Sailor and Chums, both of us down at the Point Hudson Marina, will be part of the First...
03/31/2026

First Saturday ArtWalk

The Artful Sailor and Chums, both of us down at the Point Hudson Marina, will be part of the First Saturday ArtWalk. Stop by this Saturday, April 4th between 5-8:00 pm. Start downtown then wend your way down Washington St. to The Artful Sailor, finish up at Chums, over by the pavilion, or start your tour at Chums, proceed to The Artful Sailor and from there, range on down Water Street. You’ll find functional, useful and creative treasures made by local artisans.

Salty Sue says . . .“The Artful Sailor shop located down at Point Hudson in Port Townsend, WA has become well known for ...
03/27/2026

Salty Sue says . . .

“The Artful Sailor shop located down at Point Hudson in Port Townsend, WA has become well known for it’s traditional smells of pine tar, beeswax, flax, h**p and cotton canvas. Our customers, old and new, walk into the shop/loft and are transported to another place and time. They experience an old world feel of tradition, where items are handmade one at a time with care and expertise. No mass production, bright lights and plastic displays here. When customers leave, they take with them an experience and quite often an education. Come see for yourself, or visit our website: theartfulsailor.com . We have many offerings for sailors and land lubbers alike.”

Drifter for NarwhalBefore he gives up the ghost, 80 year old, two-time solo global circumnavigator Steve Way wants to sa...
03/19/2026

Drifter for Narwhal
Before he gives up the ghost, 80 year old, two-time solo global circumnavigator Steve Way wants to sail still more blue water in his recently acquired Falmouth 22 Cutter, Narwhal.
Shy on light air sails, Steve came to The Artful Sailor’s sail loft seeking a light-weight drifter genoa, preferably a second hand sail that he could set flying, pole out and hand from the foredeck himself. With skill and daring we cut down a huge 1.5 oz. drifter from our second hand sail inventory to make a sail that would balance his present genoa in area. We cut down the giant sail bag, too. Sailwright, Emiliano Marino draws on much skill and experience when recutting second hand sails. Bon voyage, Steve and Narwhal!

Salty Sue says . . .“Another successful workshop completed! It was a great day of stitchin’. Behold three handsewn apron...
03/08/2026

Salty Sue says . . .

“Another successful workshop completed! It was a great day of stitchin’. Behold three handsewn aprons using traditional palm ‘n’ needle techniques. Good on them! Our next workshop is in two weeks. There is still one space available for the Sewing Machine Workshop on March 21st. Visit: theartfulsailor.com/on-the-horizon for details and to register.”

Address

410 Washington Street (by The Skate Park)
Port Townsend, WA
98368

Opening Hours

Tuesday 10am - 5pm
Wednesday 10am - 5pm
Thursday 10am - 5pm
Friday 1pm - 5pm
Saturday 10am - 5pm

Telephone

+13603448120

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