PORT TOWNSEND — All eyes will be on the water this weekend in Port Townsend, where the Northwest Maritime Center is celebrating the start of summer with three boating adventures.
Seventy48, a race from Tacoma to Port Townsend, kicks off tonight. The Classic Mariners’ Regatta begins with a get-together today and racing Saturday and Sunday.
The Ruckus, a street party previewing the Race to Alaska (R2AK), will be Sunday and the 750-mile Race to Alaska will begin at 5 a.m. Monday.
Seventy48
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Colorado student team has boat in today’s Seventy48 raceMay 31, 2019
In its second year, Seventy48 is a 70-mile race of human-powered boats. The starting line is at the Foss Waterway near the Museum of Glass at 7 tonight.
Race Boss Daniel Evans said 198 participants in 117 teams are entered.
This year, the competition has four classes — Standing Up, By Yourself, Facing Forward and Facing Backward. Awards will be presented.
Watchers will gather at the Seventy48 finish line at City Dock from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
Ruckus
The Ruckus street party from noon to 8 p.m. Sunday at Pope Marine Park will be the convergence of Seventy48 racers completing their race and R2AK racers getting ready to take off.
“It’s the kick-off and the celebration all in one,” said Anika Colvin, maritime center communications director.
Live music and are planned at Pope Marine Park along with a beer garden.
At 7 p.m. Sunday will be Seventy48 awards at the Ruckus Stage.
From 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., will be a ticketed live show and podcast at the American Legion Hall, 209 Monroe St.
Boldly Went, an outdoor adventure storytelling show that travels across the U.S. and Canada, will offer an afternoon of open adventure storytelling with participants in the race and the general public. Stories will be recorded for the Boldly Went podcast at www.boldly wentadventures.com.
Tickets are $15 for general public adults, $10 for race participants and $5 for those younger than 16.
Race to Alaska
The Race to Alaska , now in its fifth year, will begin at 5 a.m. Monday as spectators gather at the Northwest Maritime Center at 431 Water St., the beach and Point Hudson.
Aaran Stark, Jefferson Healthcare hospital food service director and chef, will pass out oatmeal to racers while on his stand up paddleboard (SUP).
Coffee will be available at Velocity at the maritime center at 4 a.m.
Evans said that 53 teams will start from Port Townsend, with 46 planning to go all the way to Ketchikan, Alaska.
The race is in two stages. The first stage is to Victoria, a distance of 40 miles called “the proving ground.”
It is both a qualifier for the main race and a standalone sprint for those who prefer the shorter race.
The second stage will begin at noon June 6 in Victoria.
This stage — “to the bitter end” — is a distance of 710 miles from Victoria to Ketchikan, Alaska.
The first-place prize is $10,000. Second place wins a set of steak knives in a monogrammed box.
Mariners’ Regatta
The Classic Mariners’ Regatta begins with a get-together today and continues with racing on Saturday and Sunday.
The wooden boat tradition begun in 1984 has now added yachts that have been built to a design or in the spirit of sailing yachts prior to 1967.
Two races are set Saturday, one at noon and another right after it. A rowing race is set for 10 a.m. Sunday and the final regatta race will be at noon Sunday, with awards at 4 p.m.
For more information about R2AK, Seventy48, the Classic Mariners’ Regatta or other events, go to nwmaritime.org.