PORT TOWNSEND — The Port Townsend Yacht Club will kick off the 2017 season Saturday with its annual boat parade, which is expected to include more than 50 vessels from rowboats to large yachts and historic schooners.
The boat parade has been an annual tradition for more than 25 years and has included a variety of local boaters.
As a bonus, this year’s parade on Saturday is forecast to have sunny skies.
“It looks like we’ll have a good turnout,” said Debbie Williams, the fleet captain for the Port Townsend Yacht Club.
The parade will start with the smaller boats, which will head to the Northwest Maritime Center, 431 Water St., at 12:15 p.m.
The smaller vessels include local Pocket Yachters and the local Rat Island and Tough as Nails rowing and sculling clubs, according to Williams.
The larger boats will set sail from the Boat Haven Marina at 12:30 p.m., after the ferry departs, and also head to the Northwest Maritime Center docks.
Among the larger boats are a number of Port Townsend Yacht Club members, with boats ranging from 24 to 65 feet.
Two schooners will sail Saturday: Martha, an historic 84-foot vessel, and the Merrie Ellen, a 107-foot vessel from the Pacific Northwest Schooner Association.
The Port Townsend Sea Scouts will sail the Falkor. Members of TowBoat U.S. and the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office will motor in the parade.
The newest addition to the parade will be the Old Man IV, a 52-foot Navy vessel.
“We’re really excited since they’ve never participated before,” Williams said.
East Jefferson Fire-Rescue also will be out with its fire boat, Guardian, which puts on a show each year using its water cannon.
Williams said the best place to watch will be at the Northwest Maritime Center. Marilyn Gates and Charlene Quandt of the Port Townsend Yacht Club will be there addressing spectators and giving them information about each boat as it passes.
After gathering in front of the Northwest Maritime Center at roughly 2 p.m., Port Townsend Mayor Deborah Stinson will speak to welcome the community and Paston Tony Brown of Trinity Methodist Church will bless the fleet.
More information on the parade can be found at www.ptyc.net.
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Jefferson County Editor/
