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.

Salty Sue says . . .“ We are in full swing getting ready for the PT Wooden Boat Festival coming up on Sept. 5, 6 & 7. At...
08/23/2025

Salty Sue says . . .
“ We are in full swing getting ready for the PT Wooden Boat Festival coming up on Sept. 5, 6 & 7. 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 booth 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. We will draw the lucky winner the last day of the festival.”

Hair on Fire!Two weeks and counting until the 48th Port Townsend Wooden Boat Festival takes over Point Hudson. This will...
08/22/2025

Hair on Fire!

Two weeks and counting until the 48th Port Townsend Wooden Boat Festival takes over Point Hudson. This will be The Artful Sailor’s 8th 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. This year, look for The Artful Sailor’s booth on Pine Tar Alley, at the north end of the Sail Loft Building. The booth will be a living museum of traditional maritime arts, sights, sounds and smells. Emiliano Marino will sew you your very own personal Itty Bitty Ditty Bag, a useful and cute little cotton bag, made right before your very eyes on a treadle-powered sewing machine!

An Itty Bitty Ditty Bag!Something extraordinary’s gonna happen at this year’s Port Townsend Wooden Boat Festival. Emilia...
08/05/2025

An Itty Bitty Ditty Bag!
Something extraordinary’s gonna happen at this year’s Port Townsend Wooden Boat Festival. Emiliano Marino will sew you your very own personal Itty Bitty Ditty Bag, a useful and cute little cotton bag, made right before your very eyes on a treadle-powered sewing machine! Sachet on over to the whir - whir - whirring! of the stitching and the aroma of pine tar at the The Artful Sailor’s booth on Pine Tar Alley, at the north end of the Sail Loft Building. The booth will be a living museum of traditional maritime arts, sights, sounds and smells. Take home a piece of history!

07/17/2025

Our newest product, Capt. Billy’s Whizbang Cringle Tool, is now available on our website:

https://www.theartfulsailor.com/catalogue/captain-billys-whizbang-cringle-tool
Of course, you can also stop by the shop for this new tool, plus our selection of other traditional sailmaking items, natural materials and resources. While you’re here you can try your luck at winning a traditional sailor’s hammock, completely handsewn by Emiliano. The best ten bucks you’ll ever spend: the raffle runs through the summer and the lucky winner will be drawn Sept. 7th, the last day of the PT Wooden Boat Festival.

Day 2 of our nautical yard sale! Things are flyin’ outta here. Stop on by!
07/05/2025

Day 2 of our nautical yard sale! Things are flyin’ outta here. Stop on by!

The Artful Sailor’s annual nautical yard sale is going on right now. It continues through Sunday. Come on down. It’s PAY...
07/04/2025

The Artful Sailor’s annual nautical yard sale is going on right now. It continues through Sunday. Come on down. It’s PAY WHAT YOU WISH.

Starts today! Stop by.
07/04/2025

Starts today! Stop by.

Address

Port Townsend, WA

Opening Hours

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

Telephone

+13603448120

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