The sun was up and the winds were down for the Leukemia Cup Regatta on June 10, 2017 out of Elliott Bay Marina in Seattle. For the uninitiated, the Leukemia Cup is an iconic annual charity race that raises money for the American Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. The race is a good time for sailors and volunteers alike with live music, a BBQ, and an award ceremony after the event. According to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society – Washington/Alaska Chapter, the regatta this year raised an impressive $127,000. The money is a part of the $1.8 million total the organization has invested this fiscal year in efforts underway at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and University of Washington for blood cancer research.
What’s more, the race serves as the first of the popular Downtown Sailing Series that continues on every Thursday at 1900 hours from Elliott Bay Marina through the summer. The race is known as a less formal regatta, with an emphasis on good times on the water, getting new sailors aboard, and the cookout afterwards. If you happen to be in downtown Seattle on a Thursday evening and gaze westward at the sunset over the Olympics, you may just see the fleet of sailboats cruise on past. Another tip for those interested is that the Space Needle PanoCam online offers a great virtual view of the race as well (spaceneedle.com/webcam). Whatever your preference, the Downtown Sailing Series has something for you. More information is available at downtownsailingseries.com.
