PORT TOWNSEND — A near nautical mile of wooden boats and a 94-year-old woman who once canoed from Anacortes to Ketchikan, Alaska, are among the fascinating, floating attractions at the 32nd Wooden Boat Festival today through Sunday.
Festival Harbor Master Matt Barnett estimated that 6,021 feet of boats will be in the water for the 32nd Wooden Boat Festival in Port Townsend.
A special attraction near the festival entrance is the new foundation laid for the future home of the Northwest Maritime Center, which will become the heart of future festivals beginning next year.
The boats were streaming in and around Hudson Point Marina, festival central, on Thursday.
Among them, the state’s tall ship, Lady Washington, tied up at the Northwest Maritime Center pier for tours this weekend, as well as the 1929 elegant Seattle cabin cruiser, Olympus.
Regattas scheduled include a 2:30 p.m. Friday 26-foot and under sail race, a 10 a.m. Saturday rowing race for fixed and sliding seats, a 3:30 p.m. Saturday Northwest Schooner Cup race, and a 3:30 p.m. Sunday festival sail by. All take place near or off Point Hudson.
Waterfront boats available for public sail include Adventuress (for tickets, go to www.soundexp.org), Lady Washington, Hawaiian Chieftain, SSS Odyssey and Merrie Ellen.
Besides the boats clustered at the festival’s center, speakers and maritime skills demonstrations, boat related exhibitors, food, local brews and music can be enjoyed.
Attendees are welcome to board all boats and attend all activities at no charge once inside the gate.
Tours of vessel, including the Lady Washington, are scheduled as the captains allow.
Moored wooden sailboats and motor vessels dotted the Port Townsend waterfront Thursday, framed by fog banks that were burning off as sunny temperatures took over.
“Bringing together expert boat designers, boatbuilders, circumnavigators, sailors, authors, marine artists, musicians, powerboats, kayaks, tall ships and rowing vessels creates an atmosphere of optimism and possibility, an appreciation for legacy and innovation, a celebration of travel and living that connects people to nature and to the blue parts of the globe,” said Festival Director Kaci Cronkhite, who has been on the job since 2002 and seen the festival grow and mature.
