Opening Day for boating season in Seattle this weekend

This is a big weekend for boaters in the Seattle area celebrating Opening Day on the water.

The Seattle Yacht Club organizes the bulk of the events on the Montlake Cut and says this year’s festivities are looking good.

A big highlight is the Windermere Cup. This year, University of Washington rowers will be up against Dartmouth and Cornell.

“The Ivy League schools, we’ve always wanted to have them out here, and they’ve always had a regatta on the East Coast that didn’t allow that, so this year is definitely going to be a special one,” said Seattle Yacht Club’s Admiralette Gina Purdy on KIRO Radio’s On the Water show.

A bevy of other big and small boats will also be decked out for the Opening Day Parade. This year’s theme is Hawaiian Magic.

“We’re looking forward to seeing the spirit of aloha down at the Montlake Cut,” said Purdy. “That spirit of aloha we think, really represents our city as a whole and we’re just really honored to be able to put on this wonderful event year after year for the city of Seattle.”

The Seattle Yacht Club has been hosting Opening Day on the cut since 1920. This will be their 93rd event, and Admiralette Shawn Otorowski said it’s become the biggest opening day in the U.S. They expect over 20 boats from Canada and a number from California.

Take a look at the full list of events at the Seattle Yacht Club website. They say everyone is welcome to come enjoy the show.

Hear On the Water on KIRO Radio at 8 a.m. on Saturdays. Also available anytime ON DEMAND at KIRORadio.com.