From south Puget Sound to Bowen Island in British Columbia more than a dozen Pacific Northwest marinas will be celebrating National Marina Day on June 14 by offering fun and games, boat rides, safety inspections, live music and seminars on boating issues.
“We live in one of the greatest places in the country to boat and local boaters know and appreciate that,” said George Harris, president of the Northwest Marine Trade Association. “They are always ready to celebrate with a day on the water, but on this day we ask them to bring a non-boater to share the experience. We hope they’ll enjoy the events and learn how fun and easy it can be to making boating a part of their lives.”
Nationally, Marina Day is sponsored by a host of organizations, including the National Safe Boating Council and the American Boat and Yacht Council.
Here’s a sampling of activities planned by Puget Sound-area marinas:
At Eagle Harbor Waterfront Park on Bainbridge Island, Flotilla 48 of the USCG Auxiliary will offer free vessel safety inspections and workshops on navigation, safety and knot tying.
The Bremerton Marina says pay for moorage on Friday June 13 and stay free Saturday night. The marine has scheduled a showing of Pirate of the Caribbean, safety inspections and Mark Bunzel, publisher of the Waggoner Cruising Guide will talk about the most popular cruising destinations.
At Carillon Point on Lake Washington there will be a barbecue for tenants, a scavenger hunt for kids and a boater education class offered by the King County Sheriff’s marine division.
A group of marinas in Tacoma (Dock Street, Delin Docks and Foss Landing) there’ll be free kayak use, kids dinghy races, inspections and tours of the Tacoma Sea Scouts’ training vessel, a 1931-vinage 78 footer.
At the huge Shilshole Marina in Seattle, there’ll be a swap meet, boats open for inspection, free sailboat rides and line-tossing and knot-tying demonstrations.
For a complete roundup of Marina Day programs in the Northwest go towww.NationalMarinaDay.org and click on the U.S. participants tab.
