Crew of the Coliste Adele

The M/V Coliste Adele

Click on the boat to find out about the
M/V Coliste Adele

 

 

Columbus Wichman

            Columbus arrived in Sitka over 30 years ago as a young man.  It was here that he met Marie who would become his wife, and with whom he would raise a family.
            He spent his early years with his wife, Marie, and their two small children, always finding reasons to be out on the water-hunting, camping, fishing, beach combing or just going for a scenic boat ride.  He has always felt comfortable on the water.
            Now that their children are grown, Columbus and Marie enjoy cruising in their 43' Delta.  This vessel has become their home away from home and allows them to be, as Marie says, "Sea Gypsies."  He says that living here and seeing wildlife all the time doesn't mean getting tired of it. When others are with him on his boat seeing the magic of Sitka, it brings back all the excitement and wonder he experienced the first time he saw the magnificence of this unique paradise.
            "It's always exciting to watch the faces of people the first time they spot eagles, whales, sea otters and, if lucky, deer or a brown bear or two." Watching others discover the natural beauty of Sitka brings back a fresh look to Columbus of this wonderful place he calls home.  
            In the 30 plus years he has lived in Sitka, Columbus has always had a boat, spending countless hours on the water.  He currently possesses a US Coast Guard 50-ton Master's license, is a certified scuba diver, and holds a certification in First Aid and CPR; safety is foremost when it comes to being outdoors in the elements of Alaska.  Even though Columbus is the captain, his wife boasts that she outranks him as Admiral, and  Abby, their little Cockapoo, is the best First Mate one could ask for.     

Marie Wichman

            Marie was born in Sitka, which is in an archipelago of islands referred to as the Alaska Panhandle.  Her father's parents came to Petersburg, Alaska in the early 1920s and it was there that her father was born.  Shortly after that, the family moved to Sitka where three sisters and a brother expanded the family group to seven.  Most of the siblings stayed in Sitka and raised their families here.  Marie likes to refer to the family group of siblings and cousins as "panhandle brats."
            Prior to her birth, Marie's parents and grandparents homesteaded Iris Meadows on Kruzof Island, 14 miles from Sitka, where they ran cattle, planted gardens and lived a subsistence lifestyle.  Later, as the family grew larger, they moved back into Sitka but continued to spend much of their summer time at Iris Meadows.  She remembers 'the Farm' as being one of the best experiences a child could have.
            Marie believes Sitka to be one of the best places on the planet to live and raise children.  It is through the love shared with her husband, Columbus, for the pristine beauty of Sitka, and the countless hours and days spent aboard their boat, the Coliste Adele, that the idea for sharing this experience with others was born.

Abby

            Abby is Columbus’ and Marie’s four-footed First Mate.  She has been a member of the family since she was 8 weeks old.  She took her first trip on the Coliste Adele at 81/2 weeks when the family headed out for a five-day trip north of Sitka, and is now a 31/2 year old seasoned sailor.