The Port Townsend and Sequim yacht clubs will celebrate opening day of the sailing season with boat parades and other activities this weekend.
The Port Townsend Yacht Club will host opening day in Port Townsend Bay on Saturday.
The Sequim Bay Yacht Club will celebrate opening day in Sequim Bay on Sunday.
The Port Townsend Yacht Club boat parade will begin with small boats about 12:15 p.m. Saturday, Fleet Capt. Jim Gorski said.
Larger boats will follow immediately after the 12:30 p.m. departure of the state ferry.
Public viewing areas for the waterfront parade will be from the Northwest Maritime Center pier, Pope Marine Park or other locations along Water Street.
The Old Man IV, a Navy cutter built in 1957 and formerly an admiral vessel, will lead the parade.
Northwest Funk, a regional Navy band, will play before the small boats begin and as the state ferry passes in the outdoor commons area at the Northwest Maritime Center, Gorski said.
Yacht Club Commodore Jim Pivarnik will lead the 40-plus larger boats, and Jake Beattie, the executive director of the Northwest Maritime Center,will provide commentary when each boat passes the pier.
Interested boaters can email Gorski at ptycfleet@gmail.com.
The Sequim Bay Yacht Club’s day will begin at about 9:30 a.m. Sunday at John Wayne Marina at 2577 W. Sequim Bay Road, with club members offering free rides to people of all ages in a Flying Scot sailing dinghy and power boat. Learn-to-row sessions in the club’s quad shells will be offered to those 18 and older.
An open house in the Sequim Bay Yacht Club club room is planned from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
At 2 p.m. will be the boat parade skippers meeting followed by the flag ceremony and blessing of the fleet at 2:30 p.m.
The boat parade in Sequim Bay will begin at 3 p.m.
For more information, see sequim bayyachtclub.org.
