On Thursday, September 10th, a number of local Port Townsend boats will be sailing in company off the Port Townsend waterfront to raise money for the local youth sailing team. For a $100/ person donation, you can join a vessel as a guest/crew for an afternoon sail. It is a wonderful opportunity to experience the Port Townsend waterfront from the water, to sail on and with some great boats, and to support the local youth sailing team. All of the money raised goes directly to the program.
The vessels will be boarding at a variety of locations at 2:30 PM on Thursday, September 10th, then meeting off the waterfront to enjoy an afternoon of sailing. Some of the vessels will be docking at Hudson Point after the sail as they begin the weekend festivities for the Wooden Boat Festival; others will be returning to their docks. For locals Thursday afternoon is often thought of as the best day of the festival. The boats are all arriving and it is a great time to view the vessels before the weekend rush.
The boats that have volunteered to join in the sail are Alcyone, Annie Too, Bryony, Crusoe, Grail, Lotus, Martha, Pleiades, and Sumatra, The vessels will carry three to six guest/crew, depending on their size. It is up to the discretion of the captain if the sail needs to be cancelled due to the weather conditions. Rescheduling would have to be worked out between the vessel and their guest/crew.
The Port Townsend High School Sailing Team is supported by the Northwest Maritime Center/Wooden Boat Foundation, YMCA, parents and you. The team is affiliated with the Port Townsend High School and competes in the Northwest District of the Interscholastic Sailing Association. Now finishing their third season, the team competed in eight regattas this season. Youth ages 13 thru high school seniors are welcome to join; this year there are sixteen very active sailors. We have five graduating seniors, but there are a number of promising junior sailors moving up to take their places. The team started practicing in mid-February braving some pretty cold and blustery weather. This program works well and is important because it gives youth an opportunity to have access to boats (practicing three days a week and regattas most weekends in March and April), to hone their sailing skills, and to learn racing tactics under the supervision of a group of dedicated coaches. The crews race in Vanguard 15s. If you can't make the sail, but would still like to donate to the team, any amount would be appreciated.
For more information about joining the fundraising sail, call Jeff or Martine Gibbons at (360) 385-2043 or send them email at martine@relcast.com (it is necessary to check that there is still room on the boat you want, and that the boarding arrangements work for you). Please, because of the coordinating involved, get in touch early.
If you just want to make a donation, click here for a registration/donation form.
Thanks for your support!