Scott Rohrer, Sailor and Friend

Recently I lost a cherished friend and colleague, Scott Rohrer. He was a victim of a hit and run accident in Everett, Washington, while he was out on a morning walk on October 9, 2023.

I initially met Scott when I learned of an effort to return the historic R-Class racing sloop, PIRATE, to the Northwest from California where it sat languishing at a dock. Together we formed a syndicate and brought the vessel to Seattle where a crew of Scott's volunteers from the Center for Wooden Boats restored her to past glory over several years. Scott and I teamed up to put PIRATE on the National Register of Historic Places. Scott ran a program focusing on PIRATE at the Center for several years until health issues prevented his active participation. http://rboat.org/

PIRATE

Scott was a well respected competition sailor and an eminent maritime historian. He knew more about the rumrunners that were built on Lake Union than anyone and for several years wrote a vessel history column for the Seattle Yacht Club. He was also a member of the Royal Northern & Clyde Yacht Club after sailing 8s in the United Kingdom with Sir Eric Maxwell and in Sweden on WANDA.

I hope we get a chance to raise a glass of Scotch in Scott's honor soon.

Scott Rohrer (1945-2023)