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You are an important part of Lady Washington’s story. For more than 35 years, you’ve helped write every chapter; through education, sailing, and unforgettable family experiences. Because of your continued support, progress is happening, and Lady Washington is one step closer to returning to the sea.

Thanks to you, we’ve already made strides with wood and electrical upgrades. The shipwrights have dismantled as much of the boat as needed, spars are being built, and in Aberdeen the rigging and smaller spars are coming together. Your generosity is the wind in our sails, and we couldn’t be more grateful.

Restoration is never simple, and we’ve hit an unexpected bump in the road. During this phase of the project, we discovered additional wood rot..  Not surprising for a vessel of Lady’s age. While this means extra work and cost, it also gives us time to ensure everything is done right.

On January 1st, Lady will move inside the large shipyard shop, where she will stay until the project is complete. In the meantime, smaller projects continue in Aberdeen, and we’re working hard to raise the additional $100,000 needed for the rot repair.

The challenge is real, but so is the progress: with your help, we’ve already raised $42,000 of the original $217,000 needed. Now, with the rot repair added, our total goal is $275,000 by December 31st.

This project represents the final push of a five-year, $2 million total restoration effort. We’ve already raised 86.25% of that goal. With your continued support, Lady Washington will sail again soon.

So, what is the plan for Lady Washington?

Our vision remains clear: restore Lady Washington fully so she can come home to Aberdeen, sail the Pacific Coast, and once again bring her magic to communities in Washington, Oregon, and California.

Though this winter’s schedule has shifted, our goal is unchanged.. Finish construction on time and get Lady back into the water. If funding stays on track and no new surprises appear, she is estimated to be sailing by June.‎

The masts and spars are already in progress. The shipwrights are building them, and down-rigging and preservation work continue. Moving Lady into the shipyard’s large shop ensures the work can continue regardless of weather delays.

Raising the remaining funds is our top priority. With your support, we are confident we can cover the additional $100,000 for rot repair and reach the new $275,000 total by year’s end. This will also allow us to maximize our grant reimbursements and improve cash flow for the remainder of the project.

You can help through numerous donation options, our year-end online auction in December, and by attending Grays Harbor Historical Seaport Events. Every contribution brings us closer to Lady’s return to the water.

As the team dismantled Lady, new rot was discovered in her planking and deck areas. The shipwrights will address this thoroughly while she’s inside the shop. These repairs extend the timeline but ensure Lady will be structurally sound for decades to come.

Smaller hull-related projects continue in Aberdeen, where rigging and spar work are underway. By spreading the work between locations, we’re able to keep the restoration moving forward even as schedules shift.

The shipwrights and crew are also hard at work on Lady’s electrical and systems upgrades. Much of this is technical work, but it is critical to her long-term performance and safety. Rigging, smaller systems, and additional repairs are progressing in Aberdeen.

As the project continues, we’ll provide updates through videos and online content, giving you a chance to see exactly how your support is transforming Lady Washington.

This is the final stretch of a five-year journey, and your help now is more important than ever. Here are ways you can join us:

• Donate online: www.historicalseaport.org/donate
  Options include stock transfers, cash donations, crypto, or fee-free Zelle transfers. For alternative methods, email Brandi at BBednarik@HistoricalSeaport.org.

• Volunteer: Opportunities are available in Aberdeen and Port Townsend.

• Shop merchandise: Every purchase supports the mission.

• Spread the word: Follow us on social media, share our posts, and sign up for our email list to receive updates, auction info, and event news.

Every gift, no matter the size, makes a difference. Hundreds of small donations add up to the resources needed to keep Lady sailing. Your contribution will also help us qualify for grant matches, stretching your impact even further.

You are the reason Lady Washington’s magic continues.. The sense of adventure, the living history, and the shared pride in our maritime heritage. From the bottom of my heart, thank you.

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We have good news about Lady’s restoration, but there’s also a bump in the road.
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Thanks to you, progress has been made on Lady Washington’s wood and electrical upgrades! The shipwrights have dismantled the boat as much as needed. The spars are being made. Down in Aberdeen, the rigging and smaller spars are being worked on.
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Not surprisingly, given the age of her wood, we discovered additional rot. Due to the shipyard’s schedule, this means a delay in our schedule. We will be moving the boat inside the large shop on January 1st. Lady will stay there until the project is done.
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In the meantime, we will continue working on the smaller projects in Aberdeen. We will raise the remaining needed funds, including the additional $100,000 for the rot repair. This also gives us time to get all the grant reimbursements in, which will improve cash flow, so it’s not all bad news.

In other good news, with your help, we raised $42,000 of the original $217,000 needed. Our new total to raise, with the rot found, is $275,000 by December 31. We are almost to the finish line. This is the end of a five-year, $2M total restoration project. We have raised 86.25% of the total project. With your help, we will still finish the construction on time.

Thank you for continuing to follow Lady Washington’s story and for supporting her. You have eased the burden over the past 15 months as we waited for grant funding and faced financial challenges.

Sometimes things go just the way you plan, and sometimes you must change your course. Unfortunately, we did not meet our December fundraising goal. We lost our place inside the shop in Port Townsend. However, we raised a significant portion of the $200,000 needed this month, with the rest pledged to arrive later this month.

We are shifting gears. We will install a winter cover and move the boat out of the shipwright’s way. This will enable the volunteers to start the smaller projects. We will do the deck, the crew mess and galley, spars, rigging, and engine room prep. We will have projects going on in both Port Townsend and Aberdeen.

It does mean a delay in her sailing season. Instead of July, we are looking forward to beginning our sailing season in September.

We are equally frustrated that the plans have changed and the target date has moved out. However, we remain as dedicated as you to getting the project done right. A push back of a few months is well worth decades of future sailing.

We would be nowhere without you. Your passion for Lady Washington is inspiring and keeps us going even when things get hard.

If you want to help with the restoration, we can still use volunteers in Port Townsend and in Aberdeen. We will have an online auction with some fabulous trips that close on Valentine’s Day. Our Equip the Ship campaign will launch in February, and our new online store will launch in the next few weeks. Back by popular demand, we have black-and-white hoodies!

We also have a new YouTube host, Nick, whom we look forward to introducing to you this month. Our fabulous event team is hard at work on the GraysHaven RenFaire, which you can follow on Facebook. Our event website will be up later this month.

Wishing you a prosperous and healthy 2026.

This week marked another important step forward in the Lady Washington’s restoration work. The bowsprit was successfully removed and has been safely stored beneath the vessel, where it will remain protected during the next phase of repairs.

With the bowsprit out, attention has turned back to the stem area. A closer inspection confirmed what earlier assessments suggested: the stem and the knightheads will require extensive repair. No new or unexpected issues were discovered, but the scope of this work remains significant and has been planned for accordingly. An estimate for this portion of the repairs was prepared earlier and continues to guide the project timeline.

Work on the masts is expected to begin in a couple of weeks, so there is no urgency in coordinating their transport at this time. Cover material can be delivered sooner if available, and once the vessel is fully covered, there will be substantial opportunities for volunteer involvement. Volunteers will be able to assist at both Port Townsend and Aberdeen, depending on availability and travel preferences.

Marine surveyor Patrick Mahon, who has been closely involved in the assessment of Lady Washington’s condition, will be briefly out of town next week. He has been invited by the Maritime Museum of San Diego to conduct an initial survey of their vessel collection, focused on prioritization and preservation planning. This work will not interfere with Lady Washington’s restoration schedule and may ultimately present opportunities for shared expertise and collaboration between organizations.

As always, we appreciate the continued support of our donors, volunteers, and maritime partners as this careful and methodical work continues. Each step brings Lady Washington closer to returning safely to the water.

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Patrick Mahon is a respected marine surveyor, particularly known for his expertise with wooden vessels, and is associated with organizations like the WoodenBoat School where he serves as an instructor. He provides marine survey services for appraisals and condition assessments, especially for unique wooden boats on the West Coast.

WoodenBoat School is a longstanding educational organization dedicated to giving people hands-on experience with traditional wooden boats. Founded in 1981, the school offers a wide range of courses in boatbuilding, woodworking, sailing, seamanship, and related maritime crafts.

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MORE PHOTOS COMING SOON!

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