The annual Pink Boat Regatta raises $324,000
The now annual Pink Boat regatta (named for the pink decorations of particpating sailboats) is one part fundraiser, one part sailboat race, and one part party, but the whole is far greater than the sum. Partnered with the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, the regatta is now in its sixth year and has raised over $324,000 for breast cancer research.
The event’s mission statement is clear and direct and the event has grown to support this goal: “We fuel smart research to develop new paths for breast cancer prevention and a cure. This turns cancer patients into survivors, buys precious time, and improves lives.”
The Event kicked things off with a Gala Dinner on Friday September 8 held at the Bell Harbor International Conference Center at Pier 66 in downtown Seattle. With sweeping views of Puget Sound and the Olympic mountains, this combination auction, raffle, and dinner sets the tone for a weekend of fun and fundraising. The regatta followed the next day on September 9 bringing boats out of the woodwork to do their part.
The racecourse followed the familiar Duck Dodge route, with boats crisscrossing Lake Union working from the north to south end around the marks. Stiff winds made for fast paced action on the water and exciting rounding at the top and bottom of the racecourse. With boats ranging from the Santana 20 Fraid Knot to the TransPac 52 Glory the event welcomed anyone who wants to take part. The scoring in this regatta is unlike anything else, for racers earned points for each buoy rounded during a set time limit.
Racers and sponsors had the option to “cheat” by buying extra buoys for $100 each to gain a leg up on the competition. In addition to the on-the-water fundraising, much of the money raised was directly from race crews, family, and friends. The Seattle Sailing Club sponsored J/105 Puff brought in a staggering $13,803 along with several others fundraising boats well over the $5,000 mark.
The Seattle Cancer Alliance is a network of Seattle-area research institutions that includes the Fred Hutch Cancer Research Center, Seattle Children’s Hospital, and the University of Washington School of Medicine. To learn more about what they all do, check out seattlecca.org.
The success of this year’s race bodes well for future iterations of the fundraiser regatta. For complete rankings (both fundraising and racing) of the 2017 event and additional information to join in the fun next year, check out pinkboatregatta.org.
