Cast Off to the 37th Annual Wooden Boat Festival September 6-8th
Port Townsend, WA (PRWEB) August 30, 2013 -- Heralding the last hurrah of summer, Port Townsend’s 37th Wooden Boat Festival is a feast for wooden boat lovers, offering opportunities to get out on the water in spectacular vessels, as well as learning tips about the care and maintenance of them. The festival runs September 6th through 8th, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. Sunday’s hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., culminating with the Sail-by of all festival boats at 3 p.m. The festival continues after dark on Friday and Saturday nights, with free outdoor dances held in Bar Harbor until midnight.
For those who want a jump-start to the weekend, the Bar Harbor is open to the public on Thursday, September 5th with music from 5:30 to 10 p.m.
“This year’s festival features more than 200 wooden vessels, dozens of indoor and outdoor presentations and demonstrations, a ‘who's who’ of wooden boat experts and thousands of wooden boat enthusiasts,” said Carrie Andrews, the festival and events co-director. “There's something to do, someone to meet, or a boat to board at every turn.”
A few highlights of the festival include meeting Nigel Calder, a well-known writer in the boating community. He’ll be offering an expanded seminar on September 5th. Or try your hand in the Edensaw Boatbuilding Challenge where teams compete for the coveted $1000 Edensaw Prize.
Take your children to the new and expanded Kids Cove to ride the carousel, build a boat, or make a fish print. If the festival is too much for your little ones, there’s childcare available from Firefly Preschool for ages 2-5 on Friday and Saturday for a fee. Reservations are recommended.
It’s the historic schooner Adventuress’ 100th birthday this year and the Sea Scout training ship Odyssey turns 75, while Port Townsend’s own Thunderbird fleet turns 50. Come see how they’ll be celebrating!
A variety of regattas and races will be going on all weekend. Check out the schedule on the festival’s website or in the program at the gate. For ultimate viewing of the races and regattas, enjoy the upscale Balcony Wine Bar on the deck of the NW Maritime Center sponsored by The Resort at Port Ludlow.
Got an “Old Man from the Sea” beard? Enter the Saltiest Beard Contest sponsored by Old Salts Merchants. And don’t forget to stop by the NW Maritime Center’s Members Booth to enter to win a prize.
For the weekend’s schedule and more information about additional activities during the festival go to http://www.woodenboat.org or call 360.385.3628 x104. Be sure to “Like” the Wooden Boat Festival on Facebook for the latest updates.
The Northwest Maritime Center is accomplishing its mission through an expanding range of programs and services that support the community at large, youth of all ages, maritime enthusiasts, recreational boaters, and increasingly professional mariners as well as those who aspire to a career in the maritime trades. The NWMC is also home to the Wooden Boat Festival, going into its 37th year in 2013. http://www.nwmaritime or http://www.woodenboat.org.
Contact:
Carrie Andrews, Festival and Events Director
Northwest Maritime Center and Wooden Boat Foundation
360.385.3628, ext. 106
carrie(at)nwmaritime(dot)org
Kelle Kitchel-Cooper Director of Development, The Rock Fish Group, Marketing | Development | PR | Sales, http://www.RockFishGroup.com, +1 (360) 774-0431, [email protected]
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