PORT TOWNSEND — Brave racers will take to the water in Port Townsend on Saturday as the 28th annual Shipwrights’ Regatta marks the beginning of the 2019 sailboat season.
The regional tradition is sponsored by the Northwest Maritime Center and Wooden Boat Foundation and boats of all construction are welcome.
“It isn’t for the fair-weather sailors,” said organizer Barb Trailer, festival and events director at the maritime center.
“It’ll be cold and wet. It’s definitely the first race of the season.”
On Thursday, the National Weather Service was predicting a 50 percent chance of showers with winds up to 10 mph for Saturday.
“That won’t stop anybody,” Trailer said.
She said there aren’t great options for spectators but that people — even those without experience — can participate.
Non-boat owners are encouraged to show up at the Skippers’ Meeting at 9 a.m. at the maritime center to be connected with skippers looking for crew.
A free haul-out will be awarded to two lucky sailors, courtesy of SEA Marine and the Port of Port Townsend.
The race starts at noon on Port Townsend Bay.
An awards ceremony is planned at about 4 p.m. upstairs at the maritime center. Beer and snacks will be available.
“One of the parts of the race is it’s a chance for people who would like to learn more about boats to get out and go racing, but it’s not high stakes,” Trailer said.
“Most awards are funny and given for reasons other than first place.”
Awards will be given to the first wooden boat to start, the first wooden boat to finish, the last boat to finish, the saltiest boat or crew, someone who gets lost or misses a buoy, the best use of misspent energy, the first boat to finish in cruising class, the largest crew and the youngest crew.
So far 13 boats have registered for the race, but Trailer expects upwards of 20 to enter. Many often register the day of the race.
“If it’s not snowing and hailing they usually sign up,” she said.
Registration forms are available upstairs at the maritime center 431 Water St., and online at nwmaritime.org/shipwrights.
Last-minute registrations will be accepted between 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. Saturday.
Complimentary coffee will be provided courtesy of Sunrise Coffee. Registration and the Skippers’ Meeting are held upstairs at the maritime center in the Weissblum Heritage Building (the yellow building).
The entry fee is $40.
For more information about registration, contact Trailer at barb@nwmaritime.org.
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Reporter Jesse Major can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56250, or at jmajor@peninsuladailynews.com.
