Adventuress Cup Shoves off to Support Sound Experience
The century-old schooner the Adventuress is ready to raise her sails—and raise some funds. After the usual delays from Covid restrictions for the previous two years, the schooner will sail again on September 17 in its namesake Adventuress Cup race to support Sound Experience, a non-profit organization that offers classes in seamanship for children and teenagers interested in learning how sailing ships operate in the Salish Sea environment.
Launched in Maine in 1913, Adventuress was originally designed as a luxury schooner by Bowdoin B. Crowninshield and built for John Borden II, a wealthy businessman from Chicago. The maiden voyage took the schooner on an Arctic expedition to find a bowhead whale specimen for the American Museum of Natural History. Adventuress was later sent to the San Francisco Bay area for use over the next 30 years by bar pilots is the difficult currents of the Golden Gate.
Over the last three decades, more than 30,000 youths have manned the Adventuress, climbing her masts, raising sails, and setting the rigging,in both daylong and overnight sailing instruction programs. The young students also get to take turns at the helm, learn navigation skills, and experience what it’s like to work together as a team.
During the Adventuress Cup, participants can race their own sailboats or create virtual sailing teams, and take part in the pre-race powerboat parade. On-the-water racing will be organized as a mid-length distance race, using fixed marks for keelboats, and round-the-buoys races for any dinghies that choose to register. All starts and finishes will be made at the Shilshole breakwater. The Saturday race will begin in Seattle’s Shilshole Bay at 1 p.m. Those wishing to take part in the powerboats parade should muster at the north end of the Shilshole breakwater at 12:45 p.m., and then proceed behind the Adventuress, which will lead the boats to the race course by 1:30. While powerboats move to their designated viewing areas, the sailing races will commence between 2 and 5 p.m.
Following the race, all participants are invited to meet at the Corinthian Yacht Club for a post-race celebration and the distribution of racing awards. There will also be a no-host bar and dinner options at the event, as well as opportunities to tour the Adventuress.
For those who can’t make it to the regatta in person, the event can also be seen live via the Kwindoo app (kwindoo.com), as well as through social media from Adventuress. Participating boats are encouraged to raise a minimum of $1,500, either through a peer-to-peer fundraising model or through direct contribution. To take part, make a donation, or become a sponsor of the Adventuress Cup, please visit: soundexp.org.
Wooden Boat Festival Returns to Port Townsend After Two-Year Hiatus
For most maritime events in the summer of 2022, boaters across the Pacific Northwest have rejoiced at the resumption of a (nearly) normal festival and social gathering schedule. This month, one of the last of these beloved summer events—the Wooden Boat Festival in Port Townsend—is proudly making its return after being shut down for the previous two years due to Covid health concerns.
While many of the popular workshops, seminars, special events, children-themed activities, and music acts are returning this year, the festival, to be held September 8-11, is also debuting some new attractions for boaters, which are likely to attract even more first-time festivalgoers.
One new offering will be the Innovation Marketplace and Green Boating Stage. Located in the Sail Loft parking lot, these new sessions, sponsored by SEA Marine, will showcase the latest environmentally friendly technologies being applied to reduce the carbon footprint and protect threatened marine habitats in the Salish Sea.
On the Green Boating Stage on Friday, September 9, Alex Borton of Solar Sal Boats will discuss the 1,400-mile-journey he and his father took through Alaska’s Inside Passage on a 100% solar-powered electric craft. Later that day, the stage will host the Inside Passage Decarbonizing Project’s “Golden Streamer Decarbonizer Awards,” which recognizes boaters who support alternative clean-vessel propulsion to help protect the sensitive waterways. On September 10, Seattle Boat Works’ Alex Wilken will discuss the latest advancement in electric and hybrid propulsion systems.
Also new this year will be a “Woodworking Tent,” where audiences can see demonstrations of the many ways marine crafters have turned trees into sailing vessels. The festival will also hold its annual Lifetime Achievement Awards on Thursday, September 8, for those who have demonstrated exemplary service in support of the region’s maritime community. This year, the recipients will include the Hanke family, which has been part of the Port Townsend small-business boating community for three generations (with a 4th on the way), and boatbuilder and designer Steven Rander, founder of Schooner Creek Boat Works.
The Wooden Boat Festival is the largest such event in North America, with 300 boats and 100 presenters providing hands-on seminars about the craft of boatbuilding, as well as on-the-water events celebrating the region’s maritime history, and lessons to teach a new generation of kids about boating history. For much more information about the many festival events, seminars, music, sailings, and other activities in store, as well as to purchase tickets to certain showcase events, visit: woodenboat.org.
New Non-Profit Husky Sailing Foundation Launches FJ Fleet
With cooler temperatures and grayer skies in the forecast this month, you know it’s back-to-school time again—a perfect moment to honor the new fleet of Flying Junior sailing vessels acquired in June by the University of Washington’s non-profit Husky Sailing Foundation (HSF). The dozen boats in the new fleet will be used this year by the UW Husky Sailing Team and will be added to the school’s current fleet. Donations for the FJs are from many Husky Sailing alumni and supporters. Some of the most generous donations came from the Jeff Wright family, HSF said.
At a June ceremony, the new sailing craft were all welcomed by about 70 attendees in a christening ceremony at the Sail Sand Point boatyard on Lake Washington. While christening each boat, donors shared inspiring stories of women sailors, strong mothers, deep friendships, and other amusing moments experienced on the sailing team.
The plan for the fundraising came from insights shared from recent UW graduates, who had identified critical needs of the university’s club sports program, including coaching personnel and an urgent need for new sailboats.
During each school year, the student athletes on the Husky Sailing Team travel around the country to compete in co-ed and women’s regattas within the ICSA Pacific Coast Conference. At the June ceremony, Husky Sailing Team co-captain Sam Delasanta said he will be the team’s fleet manager this school year. Crew member Maya Outhred will become the new captain of the team.
The timing of the donations was particularly fortunate, considering the recent shakeups the Husky team has endured over the last few years. Earlier this year, the Northwest Intercollegiate Sailing Association, to which the team belongs, decided to dissolve itself following a series of cancelled competitions, remote learning difficulties, and reduced travel—all due to the Covid pandemic. The move will shift UW and other collegiate teams this fall into the Pacific Coast Collegiate Sailing Conference, setting an uncertain course for the Husky team and making future support thought HSF and other donations sources more critical than even to the team’s success.
Established in 2020, the HSF helps provide funding, leadership, and long-term vision needed to develop a diverse and highly competitive sailing team at UW. All donations accepted at HSF are used to support the Husky Sailing Team, including equipment expenditures, coaching staff, travel, and advanced planning. For more information on the organization, go to: huskysailingfoundation.org.
Boats Afloat #2 Returns for September Event
Call it part deux: After its successful, first-ever spring show this year in April, Boats Afloat will return with its beloved fall event this month. Scheduled for September 15-18, Boats Afloat will take place at Lake Union Piers on South Lake Union in Seattle. The largest floating boat show in the Pacific Northwest allows attendees to browse through hundreds of sailboats and powered yachts in the same location, many of which will be end-of-season models or previews of next year’s new selections. Boat sizes typically range from 15 to 100 feet in length.
Boating enthusiasts can also see a series of new technology demonstrations, sample craft cocktail offering, dine on inspiring local cuisine, and dance to live music on the docks. On September 14, the day before the show officially opens, some guests will be able to attend a VIP preview night and glimpse a preview of the latest models being offered.
More than 50 different brands are expected to show off their wares including Bayliner, Beneteau, Catalina, Centurion, DeFever, Grand Banks, Hampton, Hunter, Jeanneau, Kadey Krogen, Malibu , Mastercraft, Meridian, Navigator, Ocean Alexander, Ranger Tug, Regal, Sea Ray, Selene, Westport, and others.
Lake Union Piers, recently renamed from Chandler’s Cove, is a five-acre site on South Lake Union currently being redeveloped by Vulcan Real Estate. “When finished next year, Lake Union Piers will be a vibrant, one-of-a-kind lakefront destination honoring Seattle’s rich maritime history,” said Schelleen Rathkopf, director of operations for Northwest Yacht Brokers Association. Current construction, however, will not disrupt the Boats Afloat Show, Rathkopf added. Food and bar service will be provided by the new Lakeside Restaurant (see page 32 for more details) and Waterways Cruises on its 90-foot Olympic Star vessel that’s anchored dockside. Attendees can purchase grab-and-go meals and snack options and use ample seating areas in between boat-shopping excursions.
The NYBA is a non-profit organization formed in 1988 to represent the interests of boat brokers, dealers, and other industry professionals. The association helps protect the health of the marine industry, connect yacht brokers and dealers with buyers and sellers, and creates guidelines and ethical standards for its member businesses. For more detailed information on Boats Afloat activities, please visit: boatsafloatshow.com.
