Keeping A 100 Year Old Tradition Alive While Trying To Stay Alive.

We have a wonderful variety of boats in our chapter, the classic bridgedeck cruiser is “Carlu”, a 1946 39′ Ed Monk design, owned by Kirk Knapp

A report from Seattle in the great Pacific Northwest! There has been stories of previous Opening Days before in WoodyBoater. This tradition was started by the Seattle Yacht Club started in 1913, with the first parade being in 1920… 100 years ago! Besides a full week of activities, it now involves crew racing, breakfasts, dinners, flag raising ceremonies, parties, dances, etc. all the things a proper yacht club should do to be an excellent host.

The fiberglassic is a 1957 16′ Glaspar Avalon, owned by Ben Bottoms and Jace Thompson. Notice the appropriate distancing!

Our Pacific Northwest chapter of the ACBS has been participating in this celebration and parade for many, many years. The day before the parade, we even give free boat rides up and down the parade route, through the Montlake Cut, out to the log boom area where hundreds of boats are tied up, some wait for days for the crew races and parade. But not this year. The SYC did the right thing and cancelled this years themed parade of “Rock Around the Dock”,

Steve Snider’s boat 1963 26′ Century Raven

Our governor has been very progressive in fighting this pandemic, and we are still under a “stay at home, stay safe” decree. For varying reasons, some boat ramps are closed, others not. Some families are “self isolating” on their boats, there is some activity with cruisers, except all marinas are closed, anchoring out is not.

Classic boats

Here is Steve, in Official Virus Attire, I think trying to drown the virus.

Our past president Steve Snider, has been our Opening Day Chairman for a number of years, and asked some past participants if they would be interested in self isolating with signs at a certain day and time, at a certain place. Unofficially of course! And of course, with a new theme:

An “atta boy” to WoodyBoater and Matt, he reminds us everyday, that:

Stay safe, keep distancing, stay social!

Ron Stevenson

A HUGE THANKS TO RON and the gang up and over there. This is a very creative way to keep it going. A sobering reminder that we can overcome all this with being smart and creative.

9 replies
  1. Gary Van Tassel
    Gary Van Tassel says:

    First contact with mahogany, varnish and leather
    Meet new boat dog Bicuit

  2. John Rothert
    John Rothert says:

    My boat is a Pacific Northwest knock off…essentially a copy of the famous Lake Union Dreamboats…most closely the 1925 Blanchard….how did they get those pics and it was not raining? and a pic with Troy and Sandi!
    John in Va.

  3. Dick Dow
    Dick Dow says:

    My guess is the libation consumed was Corona… I’m sorry I missed the chance for a natural boat wash Saturday, but after some good family time with our son and daughter-in-law I was working on one of the boats, so that sort of counts… Here’s a picture of them at Opening Day two years ago. 🙂

  4. Mark in Ohio (sometimes da U P )
    Mark in Ohio (sometimes da U P ) says:

    BOATING IS ESSENTIAL! What a way to distance yourself. Beautiful baat John. Looks like you ,Troy, and Sandi were having a go0od time.

  5. floyd r turbo
    floyd r turbo says:

    Looks a little Seattle area is a little “under the weather”. And is that a twin engine Century Raven? It looks tastefully resto-modded with flowing windshield frame and transom platform. Someone submit an article on it please. Thanks Ron for the coverage.

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