Saturday was a day of firsts for Mark Saia.
Saia and his father, Gerry, took turns at the helm of a boat, named Suva, built in 1925, experiencing the history of the schooner, how she handles on the water, and her strengths and limitations.
With strong winds, a clear sky and a view of the Olympics, the Saias, owners of the Coupeville Inn, sailed Suva for the first time Saturday out of Port Townsend.
This very schooner, commissioned 90 years ago by a prominent Whidbey businessman, will return to its former home on the Coupeville Wharf during MusselFest this year.
The schooner’s visit March 6-8 is just the beginning of what Saia hopes is an ongoing resurgence of Coupeville’s maritime history.
“Now it’s a quest,” said Saia, who also owns Penn Cove Sailing and Leisure Yacht Charters.
“I would be honored to bring her home.”
Propelled by Saia’s passion, the newly formed Coupeville Maritime Heritage Society aims to buy the historical boat and make Coupeville its permanent home.
To that end the CMHS, which will operate under the umbrella of the Island County Historical Society, is seeking donations, partners and volunteers for Suva’s purchase and maintenance.
The goal, according to Saia, is to provide a step back in time and allow the community to experience educational, vocational and recreational activities supported by watercraft culture.
“We’re losing a bit of maritime history here in Coupeville,” Saia said. “This is a wonderful venue to learn and teach people about the water.”
The CMHS is also working on getting an historic vessel designation and has been greenlighted by the U.S. Coast Guard as a small passenger vessel with a certification for up to 35 passengers, Saia said.
After MusselFest, Suva will return to Port Townsend for inspection and survey by the U.S. Coast Guard and remain there for maintenance.
The plan, Saia said, is to have Suva back in Coupeville for the summer tourist season.
Whidbey’s Frank Pratt contracted with Ted Geary, a very well-known Seattle native, classic sailboat designer and naval marine architect, to build the yacht in 1925, a one-of-a-kind, 57-foot schooner.
She was built in Hong Kong entirely of old-growth teak and was specifically designed for the Pacific Northwest.
Pratt sailed the schooner for 15 years before gifting it to friend Dietrich Schmidt and later his son Allen Schmidt, who combined had the boat for 40 years.
Suva then went to Bill Brandt of Olympia for about 25 years before returning to the North Sound to Port Townsend owner Scott Flickinger.
Lloyd Balwin bought the boat in 2009, making the Heritage Society only the fifth owner of the boat in 90 years. Balwin plans to remain involved with Suva and serve on the society’s board of directors and volunteer as a relief captain for Saia.
Tickets to tour Suva will be sold through the Historical Society and go toward the boat’s renovations. For tickets, call 360-678-3310.
Monetary donations to help with Suva’s return can be made by sending a check to the Island County Historical Society, 908 NW Alexander St. P.O. Box 305, Coupeville, WA, with a note for “SUVA” to receive a tax write off.
Donations can also be made through the organization’s fundraising page at www.gofundme.com/mexxbw
For information, visit www.schoonersuva.org or contact Mark Saia at cap
tainmarksaia@yahoo.com or 360-969-1791.
