PORT TOWNSEND — Sailboats and other vessels will kick off boating season this weekend along with a U.S. Navy band and a traditional blessing of the fleet.
The Port Townsend Yacht Club will host opening day in Port Townsend Bay beginning 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.
“Opening day is a fun traditional start of boating season,” said Jake Beattie of the Northwest Maritime Center.
“In Port Townsend, it’s a testament that we, as a boating community, hold our first regatta in February. There’s been people on the water for months now, but this really is one of many events across the country of welcoming ourselves back in the water.”
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.
The East Jefferson Fire-Rescue boat shoots water through its hoses during the opening day of boating season in 2018. This year’s event is scheduled to begin about 12:15 p.m. Saturday with viewing areas near the Northwest Maritime Center. (Christina Pivarnik)
Yacht Club Commodore Jim Pivarnik will lead the 40-plus larger boats, and Beattie will provide commentary when each boat passes the pier.
“Folks give us a boat biography, and some of it is surprising,” Gorski said. “Instead of just seeing the boats, you’re getting their history as they go by.”
All boaters who are interested may participate. A form is located at www.ptyc.net where participants can include information about their boat.
Port Townsend Mayor Deborah Stinson will provide a welcome address, and once the final boat passes, the Rev. Kate Lore of Quimper Unitarian Universalist Fellowship will conduct the blessing of the fleet.
The schooners Pacifica and Martha are expected to be at the end of the parade. In between will be the Jefferson County Sheriff’s boat and the East Jefferson Fire-Rescue boat, Gorski said.
“The weather looks to be good,” he said. “The two big schooners are beautiful if there’s enough wind. There’s nothing more inspiring, in my opinion.
“With the band playing, it makes it kind of festive on the shore for people getting ready to watch the parade.”
The parade was first held in 1947, the same year the Port Townsend Yacht Club was founded.
In the past, sailing dinghies, rowboats, skulls and people on paddleboards have been involved in the smaller boat parade.
Interested boaters can email Gorski at ptycfleet@gmail.com.
Sequim
The Sequim Bay Yacht Club will celebrate its opening day Sunday.
Starting at 9:30 a.m. at John Wayne Marina at 2577 W. Sequim Bay Road, weather permitting, club members will offer free rides to people of all ages in a Flying Scot sailing dinghy and power boat rides. 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 sequimbayyachtclub.org.
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Jefferson County Managing Editor Brian McLean can be reached at 360-385-2335, ext. 6, or at bmclean@peninsuladailynews.com.
