By Emma Wickman

Journal intern

The San Juan Island Yacht Club is hosting their annual Opening Day Boat Parade at 2:15 p.m on Sunday, May 7.

The parade will be up and down the Spring Street Landing, and all the boats entered in the contest will pass the judges’ review boat and dignitary boat.

Contestants and their vessels will be competing to win prizes in one of four categories; theme, traditional/nautical, classic wooden boat, and commercial.

The entrants will meet with their boats before the parade begins near Shipyard Cove, then parade in front of the Spring Street Landing where they will be judged.

Sgt. Zac Reimer, with the San Juan County Sheriff’s office, is one of the parade’s first responder representatives.

“I love being involved with the community, and love seeing everyone come together for this parade,” said Reimer.

He has been involved in law enforcement for 16 years and has been invited to the parade by Yacht Club employees for the past few years.

“My favorite part about being a first responder for the parade is seeing the community come together as a whole, to support the boating community for their season opener,” said Reimer.

Fire Marshal Brad Creesy has also been invited by the Yacht Club to participate in the parade.

“The most exciting thing for me is that it is my first time being a first responder in this parade and that we have an information table,” said Creesy.

The information table will offer information on vessel fire safety and precautions on such issues as fire alarms and extinguishers.

“If I am invited back next year, I will definitely attend, especially if we have the information table again,” Cressy added.

Sign up for the Opening Day Boat Parade or become a member of the yacht club at www.sjiyc.com.

Land ho!