Opening day of boating season is Seattle’s best free party

Saturday’s weather looks a little cool and drippy, but that shouldn’t dampen the spirits of thousands of Northwest residents who’ll be celebrating another opening day of boating season. (AP Photo/file)

Saturday’s weather looks a little cool and drippy, but
that shouldn’t dampen the spirits of thousands of
Northwest residents who’ll be celebrating another opening
day of boating season.

Why has the yacht parade and crew racing on Seattle’s
Montlake cut continued to be a popular, successful event
over the past quarter century? Number one, the price is
right. The event is no charge, as in free.

Number two, we love boating, and have some of the most
beautiful scenery in the world.

“The venue that we have, the timing of the first Saturday
in May, there’s something magic about it,” said Bob Ernst,
University of Washington Director of Rowing.

Working in tandem with Windermere Realty and the Seattle
Yacht Club, the university has invited some of the world’s
top athletes to compete against the Husky crews. This
year is no exception.

Argentina has sent its top junior rowers. New Zealand is
represented by its best college women’s boat from the
University of Otaga. Shells from the University of
Virginia, Gonzaga University, and Oregon State University
will also battle for trophies.

The Beavers crew coach Steve Todd says he fell in love
with the sport growing up in Seattle.

“I honestly remember watching my first Windermere Cup in
1992 when Dartmouth and South Africa were here,” said
Coach Todd. It was my first year as a high school rower.
Seeing how well you were treated as an athlete, even at
that early age, was one of the key things that got me
involved in rowing.”

The Huskies men are defending national champs and ranked
number one in the collegiate rowing polls. The women’s
program will also use Saturday’s competition to launch
their run at Pac-12 and NCAA titles.

Rowers in their teens up to their 80’s will pull oars in
races beginning at 10 a.m. Most have trained all year for
this chance to be seen by thousands of appreciative
spectators.

Once all the rowers have finished racing, it’s time for
the Seattle Yacht Club’s “Porthole to Paradise” boat
parade. The procession includes more than 250 vessels in
23 classes. Crews have polished the brass and decorated
the masts with bright flags and unusual costumes.

If you’re not lucky enough to own a cabin cruiser, or have
a friend who can take you out to the log boom, your best
view is on the banks of the Montlake cut.
Construction at Husky Stadium will make traffic and
parking a bit more difficult.

I always enjoyed standing on the Montlake Bridge looking
down at the athletes and boaters as they passed
underneath. The colors, the tooting horns, and happy
smiles are a sure signal the real Northwest spring has
arrived.

By BILL SWARTZ, 710 ESPN Seattle