The tradition continues. While for many of us the boating season in the Northwest never really closes or opens, opening day is a great way to mark the warm(ish) boating season. This year’s theme of Myths and Monsters certainly opens up a world of opportunity for the boat decorations and costumes! Following is the release below from Seattle Yacht Club, and after that is detailed information on the Windermere Cup, which promises to be a great one! Full schedule in details can be found here.
2015 Opening Day Theme is “Myths and Monsters!”
Seattle Yacht Club has chosen “Myths and Monsters” for the theme of the 2015 Opening Day Boating Festivities on May 2, 2015. The Seattle community will see boats in full dress, as well as decorated boats in myths and monsters regalia as they parade through the Montlake Cut.
This 95th annual, world-renowned boating event is under the leadership of Admiral Ted Shultz, Admiralette Sally Cole, and Vice Admiral Tom Wingard. “Myths & Monsters is a broad theme that appeals to a diverse group. We hope to see creative and inventive decorations that illustrate legends and marine life – slimy, scaly, gnarly sea creatures. This is not your Grandmother’s Opening Day theme,” quipped the Trio.
Seattle’s Opening Day is produced by countless volunteers and is open for participation to the entire Salish Sea community. The festivities begin with a celebration of our racing traditions with rowing competitions from local, regional and international athletes. The Windermere Cup – the highlight of the rowing competition – pits national/ international crews against the University of Washington men’s and women’s crew.
The celebration culminates with decorated vessels of all shapes and sizes – dinghies, aqua cars, wooden boats, sailboats, powerboats and yachts – decorated to the “Myths and Monsters” theme. Boaters and landlubbers alike cheer on the crew races and watch the dressed and decorated vessels that parade through the Cut.
Seattle’s Opening Day history goes back to 1913 in Elliott Bay. The celebration moved to the Montlake Cut in 1920 when Seattle Yacht Club moved their facilities to Portage Bay. Founded in 1892, Seattle Yacht Club has been instrumental in establishing boating traditions and hosting celebrations leading up to the legacy of what Opening Day is today.
Washington Huskies Welcome World-Class Field to 2015 Windermere Cup
SEATTLE – University of Washington Rowing and Windermere Real Estate are excited to welcome an outstanding field to the 2015 Windermere Cup, the 29th edition of this storied race, scheduled for May 2, 2015 at the Montlake Cut.
The visiting men’s crews include the two-time defending world champion New Zealand U23 Men’s National Team and traditional power Columbia University. The University of Virginia Women’s Crew will face the Huskies in a dual race on the women’s side.
“All of us at Windermere are extremely proud to have partnered with the University of Washington and the Seattle Yacht Club for the past 29 years on this premier rowing event,” said OB Jacobi, president of Windermere Real Estate. “We invite everyone to come down to the Montlake Cut to watch the races and enjoy what has grown into the largest free community event in Seattle.”
The annual spring rowing event on the Montlake Cut signifies Opening Day for boaters in Seattle. It is held in conjunction with the Seattle Yacht Club and is sponsored by Windermere Real Estate. The Windermere Cup is a must-see for those looking to experience the beautiful Northwest and the region’s rowing culture.
“This is one of the great spectacles in rowing,” said UW women’s rowing head coach Bob Ernst. “It’s a great opportunity for us to bring world-class competition to the Northwest and give all these rowers the chance to perform in front of the great Seattle rowing community.”
The New Zealand U23 Men’s National Team is one of the most talented U23 squads in the world, having won six medals at the U23 World Championships in 2014. This is the crew being groomed to represent New Zealand in the 2016 Olympic Games.
Columbia University will make its first appearance at the Windermere Cup, bringing a team rich with tradition. The Lions have won four Intercollegiate Rowing Association (IRA) National Championships in team history, coming in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Columbia took first in the Lightweight Fours in the 2014 IRAs. The Lions were one of the original stewards of the IRA.
Virginia Women’s Rowing has a strong history of NCAA Championships, most recently winning the Team Championship and the Varsity Eight in 2012. The Cavaliers won a team title in 2010 as well and have won the Varsity Four NCAA Championships four times since 2004. Last year, Virginia took fifth at the NCAA Championships.
The University of Washington men’s crew has won the IRA National Championship title the last four years. Last year, the UW women finished seventh overall at the NCAA Championships, with the varsity eights and fours advancing to their respective Grand Finals.
“Windermere Real Estate has always been committed to having a world-class regatta in our back yard,” said UW men’s rowing head coach Michael Callahan. “The latest development of bringing Columbia, Virginia, New Zealand – the two-time U23 World Championship Men’s 8 – is another example of them bringing the best of the world to the Montlake Cut.”
For more information go to www.WindermereCup.com.
About Windermere Real Estate and Windermere Cup
Seattle-based Windermere Real Estate is ranked the largest regional real estate company in the Western U.S. with over 300 offices and 7,000 agents serving communities in Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Mexico.
Windermere’s heritage of supporting collegiate crew racing began in 1987, when the company sponsored the first Windermere Cup regatta in Seattle. More than 800 athletes a year from around the world come to Seattle to participate in the Windermere Cup title races. Held in partnership with the University of Washington and the Seattle Yacht Club, the Windermere Cup has become one of the largest community events in Seattle, welcoming national and international crew teams for exciting competition while commencing the official Opening Day of boating season for the waters of the Puget Sound.
About Washington Rowing
The University of Washington Rowing program was started in 1903, and is one of the oldest sports at UW. With a tradition of winning championships and Olympic medals, Washington Rowing is one of the best university rowing programs in the world. With its state-of-the-art training facility located on the UW campus right on the shores of Lake Washington, surrounded by mountains and in close proximity to the iconic Montlake Cut, Washington Rowing attracts the best men and women athletes from the Pacific Northwest and around the world. More information at GoHuskies.com and @UWHuskyCrew.
