In spring 2026, the Western Flyer will travel north along the Pacific coast, returning to the waters of the Pacific Northwest where the vessel was built and worked.
This voyage reconnects the Western Flyer with the region where it was brought back to life—and brings hands-on ocean science programs to coastal communities across Oregon and Washington.
A Historic Vessel Returns North
Built in Tacoma in 1937, the Western Flyer became famous when John Steinbeck and Ed Ricketts sailed it to the Gulf of California in 1940, later chronicled in The Log from the Sea of Cortez.
After decades of fishing, two sinkings, and a meticulous restoration led by the Port Townsend Shipwrights Co-op, the vessel now serves as a platform for ocean science and education.
A Floating Classroom
As the Western Flyer travels north, hundreds of students will step aboard to experience ocean science firsthand.
Participants will:
- Deploy oceanographic instruments and collect real-time data
- Sample and observe marine life, including plankton and microscopy
- Analyze ocean conditions and interpret findings
- Learn alongside scientists, educators, and mariners
- Connect science, history, and storytelling through the legacy of the Western Flyer—from its fishing roots to the Steinbeck–Ricketts expedition
For many, it will be their first time aboard a research vessel—and a first look at careers in ocean science.
Coastal Communities
The voyage will also open the Western Flyer to coastal communities along the route.
Public tours, talks, film screenings, and events will invite people aboard to experience the vessel firsthand, meet crew and educators, and connect with the history and the work happening on the water.
Planned Pacific Northwest Stops
Save the date—more details coming soon.
Charleston and Coos Bay, Oregon
May 6–13, 2026
Student programs and community events in partnership with local educators and marine science organizations
- Saturday, May 9 – Charleston Marine Life Center 10th anniversary celebration with tours, open house, and events
- Sunday, May 10 – Coos Bay – Coos Bay evening lecture and film screening of We Simply Liked It
Newport, Oregon
May 15–22, 2026
Education programs with regional marine science partners
- Sunday, May 17 – Public event at Hatfield Marine Science Center with tours, film screenings, and more
Port Townsend, Washington
May 28 – June 7, 2026
A return to the harbor where the Western Flyer was restored.
- Sunday, June 7 – Final community event at the Northwest Maritime Center with free tours and events
Help Launch the Voyage
This Pacific Northwest expedition is a pilot program, with the goal of building a recurring voyage every two years.
Support helps fund:
- Hands-on student programs
- Public events and community access
- Vessel operations and fuel
- Crew and safety
Your support helps expand opportunities for students and communities to take part in this return.
Pacific Northwest 2026 Collaborators
Corporate Partners
Providing financial support that helps make the Western Flyer’s Pacific Northwest voyage and programs possible.
In-Kind Supporters
Providing in-kind goods, services, and facilities that support vessel operations and programs.
Community Collaborators
Partnering on education, research, and community programs, along with the many schools, educators, and students who make this work possible.
Interested in supporting the Pacific Northwest Expedition as a Corporate Partner?
View partnership opportunities
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