Life As Live Aboards

Dolphin Spirit

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to live on a boat with the freedom to chart your own course, traveling when and where you choose in the comfort of your floating home? It’s a dream-come-true for Anne and Don Whipple, a California couple that moors in Port Ludlow for part of every year.

As guest bloggers this week, the Whipple’s share a bit about what keeps them coming back to Port Ludlow year after year.

Boating has been a big part of our lives since the early years of our marriage. We spent nearly 30 years houseboating, skiing, jet skiing, and fishing on a small Northern California lake. Our retirement dream was always to live aboard a boat and cruise. We envisioned ourselves exploring the historic waters of the Intercoastal Waterway--generally known in boating circles as "The Great Loop."

Anne Whipple

As sometimes happens to plans, fate and a good friend intervened! Shortly before we were ready to put our California home on the market and set off to follow our nomadic dream, we were invited to join a friend on his boat to cruise for a week on Puget Sound and in the San Juan Islands. We were smitten! We thought this was the most spectacular area we had ever seen!

Don Whipple

When our home sold a few months later, we decided to return to the area to see if it was still so magical. It was! Perhaps even more so!

We have been living aboard "Dolphin Spirit" in the Resort at Port Ludlow Marina since spring of 2004. We have met many wonderful people here and are active members of the Port Ludlow Yacht Club. We felt Port Ludlow was home from the very first time we saw it. That good feeling surfaces each time we return, whether from our summer cruising aboard Dolphin Spirit or our RV travels south in the wintertime. Port Ludlow is home.

And, as Dorothy said, "there's no place like home!"

Anne & Don Whipple

Meet Kori and Port Ludlow’s Seafaring Dog

Sir Christopher Ludlow Sampson

If you’ve been to the marina lately, you may have noticed a cute little Welsh Corgi trotting along a dock or taking an afternoon nap in the sun. That would be none other than Sir Christopher Ludlow Sampson, Port Ludlow’s seafaring dog and loyal companion of Marina Manager Kori Ward. While Sir Christopher has been “working” at the marina for the nearly seven years, Kori’s history with the Resort At Port Ludlow spans two decades.

Marina Manager Kori Ward

 Growing up in a boating family that made its home on the Hood Canal, Kori has always been at home on the water and was naturally drawn to a maritime career. She hired on as a dock attendant at the Resort in 1992, and worked her way up to Dock Master and finally to Marina Manager. She is the “go to” person for long-term moorage arrangements and manages a marina staff of seven.

Working with Port Ludlow’s resident boating community and the many guests that boat-in to the Resort or kayak on Ludlow Bay is what Kori loves best about her job. She is extremely knowledgeable, and regularly fields a variety of questions.

Asked what question she gets the most from visiting boaters, Kori replies, “what is the average temperature of the water in Ludlow Bay?”

If you’re reading this post, you may live in Port Ludlow or perhaps you’ve enjoyed a stay at the Resort. Do you know the answer? If so, tell us – or share your best guess – with a comment below! Kori promises to provide the answer next week.

Now that summer is finally here, we hope you’ll come out and enjoy the marina often -- whether it’s from the water or while relaxing with a glass of wine on the veranda and watching the boats go by!

Port Ludlow Marina

Port Ludlow By Boat

The Farmer’s Almanac has predicted a much warmer and slightly drier summer in the Pacific Northwest this year. If you’re a boater, this welcome news may have you making travel plans!  With so much to do – from calculating nautical miles to mapping out your cruising/sailing route to scheduling or performing maintenance on your craft to a million other preparations -- the best way not to forget something important is often by writing a “Note to Self.” The Ludlow Portal would like to help by writing that note for you.

Note To Self: Reserve a Slip at Port Ludlow Marina!
          

The Resort At Port Ludlow’s deep water full-service marina, Latitude 47 55.30’, Longitude 122 41.10’, is surrounded by pristine natural beauty and Olympic Mountain views. It has 300 slips (60 designated for guests) and can accommodate vessels up to 200’. More information here.

It’s a great base from which to enjoy the Resort’s amenities, such as championship golf and dining at the award-winning Fireside Restaurant.

The marina is also ideally situated for access to the San Juan Islands, as well as day trips to Port Townsend, Poulsbo, Admiralty Inlet and other destinations.

Have you boated in to the Resort before? If so, what were some of the highlights of your trip? Please share your experience by commenting below!

Meet Brent Sasse of Westharbor Homes

Brent Sasse

Brent Sasse is the Construction Manager at Westharbor Homes, a full service general contractor that has been building and remodeling homes in the master-planned community at Port Ludlow for over 20 years. If you live in Port Ludlow, you may know Brent. Perhaps you’ve had the pleasure of working with him or have joined him on the links. If not, please allow The Ludlow Portal to introduce you to this most personable builder through a quick round of Q & A.

LP: How long have you been building homes?           

Brent:  I grew up in the construction industry. My grandfather started a family business –Sasse & Sons Construction -- and my Dad and his brothers all worked there. When I was old enough I joined them. I did everything– framing, dry wall, roofing, cabinetry, tile work, etc.  It gave me broad industry knowledge and experience, which I value today. Most contractors my age are specialty contractors.  

Brent and a fellow Port Ludlow Golf Club Member

LP:  What aspect of construction do you most enjoy?     

Brent:  The thing I enjoy most is building relationships with my clients helping them throughout their projects – that’s what it’s all about. I’ve made a lot of friends within the community, and the business has grown through word-of-mouth.

LP: You are originally from Southern California. What brought you to Washington?

Brent: The opportunity to work for Westharbor Homes! My family had vacationed in Washington, and when the job offer came through in 2006 we were ready to move.

LP: One of the really nice things about the residential community at Port Ludlow is the diversity of homes. Tell us about some of the homes that you’ve built.


Brent: I’ve built 12 custom and semi-custom spec homes in the community. They’ve ranged in size from 2,000 to 7,000 square feet with a variety of floor plans, surfaces and finishes. One of the really nice things about Port Ludlow is that all of the homes have either mountain, water or golf course views.



LP: Westharbor Homes will be breaking ground on a new project in the near future – Ludlow Bay Village Condominiums. What differentiates this project from other condominiums in Port Ludlow?

 

Ludlow Bay Village Condominiums

Brent:  First of all – the location. These units will be right on the water between the marina and the Inn at Port Ludlow, with fantastic views of Ludlow Bay and the Olympic Mountains. We’ll be using the most up-to-date building materials and practices. Project phasing includes redevelopment of the marina with new retail space, a restaurant and a boardwalk, which will give it an urban village kind of feel.

If you’d like to contact Brent Sasse in regard to building or remodeling a home, he can be reached at 360-437-8255 or BSasse@portludlowassociates.com.