2025 Astoria Regatta Admiral

Captain Michael Tolley is a Columbia River Bar Pilot and Master Mariner with over 30 years of experience at sea. A 1993 graduate of Maine Maritime Academy, he began his career as a Naval Officer, deploying twice overseas. Throughout his career, he has circumnavigated the globe 13 times, commanded the historic schooner Roseway, and spent nearly a decade as Captain of bulk carriers. 

While commanding the bulk carrier Harriette, he successfully defended his ship from Somali pirates, facing gunfire and an RPG attack. Later, as Captain of the Liberty Grace, he again confronted piracy in West Africa. In 2014, he played a critical role in rescuing 241 Syrian refugees in the Mediterranean before transitioning to the Columbia River Bar Pilots in 2015. 

A devoted husband and father, Captain Tolley’s career is a testament to adventure, resilience, and unwavering dedication to the sea.

2025 Grand Marshal