Opening Day Boat Parade: ‘A Community Afloat’

The Opening Day Boat Parade, "A Community Afloat" on May 1 was a wonderful, fun community event! Forty boats were involved in the Opening Day festivities. Orca Star with the American Legion Post 163 Color Guard led the parade, saluted by 3 volleys from the American Legion Rifle Salute Squad, and followed by the classic wooden boat Baten with Grand Marshall, Sheriff Ron Krebs. The Port of Friday Harbor and American Legion cannons added to the festivities, getting everyone's attention. Representatives of the community in the parade included the Lion's Club, Rotary Club, Masonic Lodge, Community Theater, Children's Theater Workshop, Peace Island Medical Center, University of Washington Labs, Friday Harbor Power Squadron, the Library, Pintail, the Port's Pumpty Dumpty, four vessel assist boats, three Sheriff's boats, a USCG patrol boat, and a host of other community boats. The Sheriff – Fire boat Sentinel closed the parade with her water monitors spraying the harbor.

May 13, 2016 1:15 pm
Opening Day Boat Parade: ‘A Community Afloat’

The Opening Day Boat Parade, “A Community Afloat” on May 1 was a wonderful, fun community event! Forty boats were involved in the Opening Day festivities. Orca Star with the American Legion Post 163 Color Guard led the parade, saluted by 3 volleys from the American Legion Rifle Salute Squad, and followed by the classic wooden boat Baten with Grand Marshall, Sheriff Ron Krebs. The Port of Friday Harbor and American Legion cannons added to the festivities, getting everyone’s attention. Representatives of the community in the parade included the Lion’s Club, Rotary Club, Masonic Lodge, Community Theater, Children’s Theater Workshop, Peace Island Medical Center, University of Washington Labs, Friday Harbor Power Squadron, the Library, Pintail, the Port’s Pumpty Dumpty, four vessel assist boats, three Sheriff’s boats, a USCG patrol boat, and a host of other community boats. The Sheriff – Fire boat Sentinel closed the parade with her water monitors spraying the harbor.

Community boats competed in one of four categories; winning boats and their skippers are listed below:

Classic Wooden Boat:

1st Place: Peniel, David Howitt & Barbara Bender

2nd Place: Spike Africa, Gary Gero

3rd Place: Baten, Dr. Carolyn Haugen

4th Place: Lilliwaup, Kurt & Peggy Long

Commercial:

1st Place: Pintail, Kevin & Kendra Martin

2nd Place: Towline, Captain Charles Nash

3rd Place: Sentinel, Officer Zach Reimer

4th Place: Pumpty Dumpty, Allen Messick

Traditional/Natuical:

1st Place: Lanna Ann, Norris & Karen Palmer

2nd Place: Hokulele, David Aas

3rd Place: Ambition, Brent Huntington

4th Place: Inga, Chris Christenson

Theme; “A Community Afloat”:

1st Place: Charisma, Wally Gillette

2nd Place: Teal, Kit Pingree

3rd Place: Orca Star, Bill West

4th Place: Polaris, Michael Clark

Judges Award: Most Creative: Centennial, Craig Melvin & Meegan Corcoran

Judges Award: Best Overall: Rebozo, Bill & Rebbie Bates, Peace Island Medical Center

The Parade Awards Ceremony and dinner was held at the San Juan Island Yacht Club, with a packed room, and was a grand ending for “A Community Afloat.”