Gabriola Island in British Columbia's beautiful Gulf Islands is the site of one of Canada's top boatbuilding programs. Nestled in a bay at the south end of the island, students from around the world learn, build and this weekend "launch" their boats at the annual Launch Festival. At 1:00 on Saturday, Kaci will present Finding Pax, the story of her 1936 Danish spidsgatter that spent nearly 25 years in British Columbia before returning to Port Townsend in 2007. Known for creative events like the first North American Shipyard Raid, the Silva Bay Shipyard School is Canada’s only full time, accredited training school in wooden boat lofting, construction, joinery and marine cabinetry. It continues to evolve with an active and engaged resident and visiting staff. For more information about the festival and the school go to

Kaci Cronkhite will present "When a Cowgirl Goes to Sea", as special guest speaker at the annual Change of Watch dinner and ceremony for the Port Ludlow Flotilla of USCG Auxiliary. The dinner will be held December 7, 2009 at the Ajax Cafe in Port Hadlock.  USCG Auxilliary members are dedicated to assisting the USCG in non-military action and education and play a vital role in recreational boater education and safety. 

Kaci Cronkhite will present Finding Pax, the story of her Danish spidsgatter. Kaci bought the boat from a young Canadian artist with a tangled, undocumented history of importation to LA, a sketchy mastless arrival in Sausalito, a fire, a night journey with a woman shipwright to a remote bay on Vancouver Island and without proof of birth. In June 2009, Kaci will travel to Denmark and Sweden to interview people who own boats with similar design detail, hull shape, and access to the microfilm where her mystery may be revealed. As those who own wooden boats know, the journey is much more than just sailing. It's a tale of love, passions, adventure and skills. Visit Kaci onboard the boat during Festival or year round at Center Dock, in Point Hudson. Finding Pax will be presented during the Wooden Boat Festival, September 11-13, 2009 at Point Hudson Marina. For more information about the Festival and for the latest on all the presentations, go to www.woodenboat.org/festival.

On Friday, May 22, 2009... Kaci Cronkhite, Managing Director of Northwest Maritime Center & Wooden Boat Foundation, the "new" kid on the Main Street block this summer, will present "Working Together", a discussion and question/answer session with Main Street member businesses. The free presentation starts at 8:30am at The Public House restaurant on Water Street. Light breakfast is served. At noon, May 22, from 12-12:30, Kaci will guide free public "hard hat" tours of the new NWMC facilities at Water Street & Point Hudson. For more information, contact Mari Mullen, Executive Director of Port Townsend Main Street.

Monday, April 13, 2009  Seattle Women's Sailing Association monthly meeting presentation

Shilshole Marina, condo meeting room A

For time and directions, contact Laura Dangel, SWSA President at 1-866-769-7972.

Finding Pax: Women in the Wooden Boat World  by Kaci Cronkhite

As the only woman on her first ocean passage, then the lone all-woman crews on two different boats crossing oceans (one was Seattle-based Tethys, circumnavigating) from 1993-2001, Kaci's fifteen-year journey aboard boats and into the wooden boat world is full of insights, some hilarious experiences, a harrowing incident or 5 and an inspiring end result.  In August 2007, after a decade avoiding boat ownership, she was smitten with a 1936 Danish double ender named PAX.  The lessons learned on this 28 foot boat in a town world famous for wooden boat restoration and still with few women in the hands-on trades, adds another layer to her journey into the rich history and growing modern network of women sailors, owners and boatworkers she's met in the wooden boat world.  In addition to her role as Managing Director of the Northwest Maritime Center & Wooden Boat Foundation, she is an advocate, a mentor, a passionate collaborator for women and men who support women's pursuit of their bluewater and wooden boat dreams.