Port Townsend Maritime Academy's largest class ever begins their maritime journey
by Northwest Maritime 19 Nov 2024 07:46 AEDT
Port Townsend Maritime Academy's class © Northwest Maritime
Port Townsend Maritime Academy's (PTMA) Class of 2025 have taken to the stage in style, being the largest class size in PTMA history.
Our students come from across the western shores of Puget Sound, and meet together every morning at the Northwest Maritime Center.
Students began the year by attending a festival—the Wooden Boat Festival to be specific—organized and hosted by Northwest Maritime as a community engagement event. It was the perfect opportunity for students to learn more about the breadth and depth of the Maritime Community and the industries involved. Students had the opportunity to walk the docks, get involved in hands-on activities such as rope making, and attend presentations on various subjects.
"My favorite part of the term so far was listening to one of the WBF keynote speakers, Annie Means, talk about her work as a boatbuilder from Seattle. It was the first time I had heard of the blue economy." - Maerin Munson-Burns, OCEAN
You might ask, after being exposed to all the maritime wonders and delights of the Wooden Boat Festival, where to do you start? For PTMA, our students start where most mariners start from, or end up when things go wrong and is, therefore, a foundational marine skill—rowing.
"When I'm rowing I feel at peace, because I enjoy being on the water and I like being able to have control of the boat." - Alana Hamman, Port Townsend High School
For the second year in a row, Rat Island Rowing and Sculling Club (RIRSC) opened their doors to PTMA and welcomed the students into their community. Over seven sessions, and over forty volunteer hours, coordinated by RIRSC member Bill Dudley, students were introduced to rowing ergs, and the art of rowing in slide-seat vessels as a team.
Every student had the chance to get out on the water with RIRSC slide-seat skiffs, and for the second year in a row, the experience was for many students, the highlight of the unit.
"I really enjoyed getting a good workout in while also being on the water. I quickly picked up on the form and the motions required to effectively push the boat through the water. " - Isaac Johnson, Chimacum High School
Over the course of the rowing unit, nineteen individual students from seven different sending schools have become the PTMA crew of 2025, and as students finish their first unit and look forward to the coming year, there is a sense of purpose amongst the students.
"I'm excited for this year because I'm hoping it will give me more opportunities in the maritime field, especially regarding making a career as a Merchant Mariner. I am currently looking at applying to MITAGS in Seattle. It would be a pretty short commute, and after I graduate, I would automatically qualify for the rank of officer." - Robin Jenkin, Senior, Olympic High School