PORT TOWNSEND — The Northwest Maritime Center will host the 19th annual International Pacific Challenge this weekend.
Six teams of young people from around Puget Sound will compete aboard replica longboats in the Northwest Maritime Center’s 19th annual International Pacific Challenge.
Rowing, sailing, navigation and seamanship challenges on Port Townsend Bay are planned today through Sunday.
The public is invited to watch the beginning of a race at 9 a.m. Saturday in front of the maritime center pier.
A boat parade past the center will begin at 10 a.m. Sunday. Crews will demonstrate a special salute created just for the event.
In addition to three teams from Jefferson County, teams from Olympia, Auburn and Anacortes are competing in the event.
The Pacific Challenge was first held in Port Townsend in 1992 to celebrate the bicentennial of George Vancouver’s voyage of exploration throughout Puget Sound.
Each subsequent year, the event is hosted by a different port community and is designed to test the nautical skills and knowledge of young mariners ages 14-18.
The event is judged by a crew of volunteer maritime role models and educators.
“We’ve been waiting for this facility to be open so we could host this event again,” said Rob Sanderson, maritime center waterfront programs manager.
“It’s great to have everything we need right here for an outstanding competition.”
The Port of Port Townsend and the Port Townsend Food Co-op are sponsoring the event along with the Northwest Maritime Center & Wooden Boat Foundation.
The tall ships Lady Washington and Hawaiian Chieftain also are expected to be at the maritime center this weekend.
The boats arrived in Port Townsend on Wednesday. They will offer dock-side tours, battle sails and an adventure sail.
For more information about sailing times and prices, see http://historicalseaport.org.
The Northwest Maritime Center & Wooden Boat Foundation is located at the east end of Water Street next to Point Hudson Marina in downtown Port Townsend.
