Seattle opening day of boating season

[ron ll]

I've never quite figured this one out. Does anyone know when closing day is? I guess I keep missing it.

[Yeadon]

It's a rolling enrollment process. Do you have your papers in order?

[ron ll]

Lots of pretty boats (and some plastic ones :D ) going by my office window today on their way into the lakes for the festivities tomorrow. Malibu (I think) earlier and just now a pretty black hulled (not sure of the Navy term) captain's gig? admiral's barge? Anyway named "Old Man IV".

[ron ll]

Wow. A pretty little Chris named "Rebound" from Gig Harbor just went by.

I better quit this or I'll be posting all day.

[Yeadon]

There must be at least 75 lined up near Husky Stadium, and another 50 on the west side of the cut.

To kick things off, everybody should hold a $100 bill high over their heads, tear it in half, cuss out their first mate, and take a shot.

After a round of heartfelt apologies, the season can truly begin.

[StevenBauer]

Have you no camera? :(:rolleyes::(


Steven

[Lew Barrett]

Ah, the zoo without bars, where the animals are the onlookers! Are you on the boom, Ron? Rita's out this year....thank goodness. Stop by SYC tonight. I'll be there with fifty of my closest friends. Look aboard "Kona Trader" on "O" dock, and come aboard if you've a mind.

[Lew Barrett]

Lots of pretty boats (and some plastic ones :D ) going by my office window today on their way into the lakes for the festivities tomorrow. Malibu (I think) earlier and just now a pretty black hulled (not sure of the Navy term) captain's gig? admiral's barge? Anyway named "Old Man IV".

She is the Admiral's boat, a fifty foot Monk, and still in active service.
A good-will unit for occasional use by the boss. Closing day is unofficially Labor Day weekend. It has no meaning here in a place where we all go out all year long.

[Paul Girouard]

She is the Admiral's boat, a fifty foot Monk, and still in active service.
A good-will unit for occasional use by the boss.



We'd call it the Admirals Barge Lew , the Captain's "boat " is called the Capt. Gig.

Nuttin like "standing off" the fantail for 1/2 hour or so waiting for either one of those boats to on or off load in rolling swells with a bunch of drunk/ puking squids :eek: Those where the days :D :rolleyes:

[rbgarr]

Have you no camera? :(:rolleyes::(


Photos from last year: http://tinyurl.com/6xrs8b

http://i31.tinypic.com/15mdbns.jpg

[Lew Barrett]

Despite forecasts of a sunny weekend, it's rather gray and chilly here this morning. I was at party central last night, but few of the fine wooden boats that are usually assigned to O Dock were there. More may actually be in the parade, but to tell the truth festivities felt low key this year. If the weather is crappy, that can keep people away, but at least the winds are light this year.

Portage Bay, the entrance to Montlake Cut through which the parade winds, is a madhouse during this event. Hundreds of boats are milling around in exceptionally close formation, all jockeying to get into proper order, which would be fine if everybody knew what the proper order was, but there are always those that appear to be in total confusion.

Light winds are a benefit as they mean less backing and filling, but for the hour or so a given boat might be on point, it can be extra work for the helmsman. Classic power and sail at least go through early so there's a bit less milling around for them. If you want to see them, you have to get there earlier, but for a fact, fewer will be participating this year.

[Lew Barrett]

Now it's raining.

[CharlieCobra]

Supposed to be blowing 15-25 later today and clearing up.

[ron ll]

No Lew, I haven't taken part in opening day for 30 years. Back then we used to spinnaker thru the cut in the Blanchard Sr. then race in the Mark Meyer race. Yesterday I was watching boats enter the locks from my office. Too bad it is such a grey Seattle drizzle this morning but it shows signs of brightening.

[ron ll]

Oh, and was kidding about "closing day". I like using the boat in winter as do many in Seattle. I've often said one of my favorite features of Snoose is the coathook right inside the pilothouse door :D

[Lew Barrett]

I'll be home working on my projects, Ron. Opening Day is a mixed event as far as fun is concerned for me. I think they may have more fun on the boom, but I'm not that kind of party animal, and my wife loathes it.
Gotta save her boating days for the good stuff.

[Yeadon]

Lew, you working on the Hvalsoe 13 today? You might have found the craigslist steal of the decade.

Eric and I took CWB's HV13 for a sail a couple weeks ago. The boat is really nice. Rows well, and while under sail it tacks on a dime.

[Lew Barrett]

The Hvalsoe is an easy job that needs me to concentrate on it for a week or two. I'm wrapping up Rita's stuff, then it's hard on the Hvalsoe till she's done. Really just a paint and varnish job. But she'll be finished mostly outside until the final coats, The garage she'll be painted and finished in can't hold her and all my other stuff, so she's been on the back burner until the weather gets reliable. Screaming deal, she was. She'll be good by July, if not sooner, and could be splashed and used today, but deserves better than that.