Seafair Albert Lee Cup won by 26-year-old rookie

Andrew Tate driving for the Sound Propeller/Les Schwab hydro won the Albert Lee Appliance Cup at Seafair Sunday.

It was his first big win, beating Jimmy Shane driving the royal blue HomeStreet Bank hydroplane.

“The kid deserves everything,” Shane said of the 26-year-old. “He’s a hard charger.”

Tate also beat J. Michael Kelly and veteran driver Jean Theoret, who was disqualified from the final and then return after the disqualifying penalty was reversed on appeal.

Tate described the race as intense and “unbelievable,” especially after a rougher go late last month in the Tri-Cities.

“I can’t thank everyone enough,” said Tate, excited to bring the championship trophy back to his hometown of Detroit. “I never saw so much blue in a rear view mirror in my life.”

Kelly, who won the last two Albert Lee Cups at Seafair, was third.

Graham Trucking Seafair Cup

The Graham Trucking Seafair Cup for the Formula 1 power boats was taken by Chris Fairchild after a wild start.

F1 driver Will Hough was in the first lap of the final when his boat flipped. A rescue boat sped to save him, but Hough was already out when rescuers arrived, scooped him up and took him to shore.

It is not known if Hough was injured, but he gave the thumbs up signal as medics brought him to shore.

In the Grand Prix West Final, Greg Hopp won driving for Gratitude Sailing.

See video of the Seafair highlights, including the Blue Angels and hydroplane races on the KIRO 7 Seafair page.
Results from races throughout Seafair Sunday

H1 Unlimited Race Results

Heat 1A (Saturday):

1st: U-5 Graham Trucking
2nd: U-3 Miss DiJulio
3rd: U-21 Miss Albert Lee Appliance
4th: U099.9 Carstar/Miss Rock
5th: U-1 Miss HomeStreet

Heat 1B (Saturday):

1st: U-9 Sound Propeller/Les Schwab Tires
2nd: U-7 Graham Trucking II
3rd: U-16 Oh Boy Oberto
4th: U-11 J&D’s Hydraulics/Peters & May

Heat 2A (Sunday):

1st: U-1 Miss HomeStreet
2nd: U-9 Sound Propeller/Les Schwab Tires
3rd: U-99.9 Carstar/Miss Rock
4th: U-21 Graham Trucking II
5th U-21 Miss Albert Lee Appliance

Heat 2B (Sunday):

1st: U-5 Graham Trucking
2nd: U-3 Miss DiJulio
3rd: U-16 Oh Boy! Oberto
Did not finish: U-11 J&D’s Hydraulics/Peters & May

Heat 3A (Sunday):

1st: U-21 Albert Lee Appliance
2nd: U-9 Sound Propeller/Les Schwab Tires
3rd: U-11 J&D’s Hydraulics/Peters & May
4th: U-5 Graham Trucking
5th: U-16 Oh Boy! Oberto

Heat 3B (Sunday):

1st: U-1 Miss HomeStreet
2nd: U-7 Graham Trucking II
3rd: U-3 Miss DiJulio
Disqualified: U-99.9: Carstar/Miss Rock

Formula 1 Race Results

The final heat was only one lap in when driver Will Hough flipped going to fast into a corner. He was able to get out of the boat on his own but was rescued by medics. Watch the video below.

Heat 1 (Saturday):

1st: 69 – Mike Nass
2nd: 62 – Chris Fairchild
3rd: 95 – Mark Welch

Heat 2 (Saturday):

1st: 62 – Chris Fairchild
2nd: 95 – Mark Welch
3rd: 69 – Mike Nass

Heat 3 (Sunday):

1st: 88 – Tami Wolf
2nd: 62 – Chris Fairchild
3rd: 59 – Tyler Welch
4th: Mark Welch

Graham Trucking Seafair Cup Winner:

1st: 62 – Chris Fairchild
2nd: 95 – Mark Welch
3rd: 59 – Tyler Welch
4th: 69 – Mike Nass