by Staff Report
Anacortes Workboat Races logo by Bill Mitchell.
Who can resist the sight of a classic old tug, fish boat or workboat steaming down the waters of Puget Sound on the way to its next job or port of call?
Put several of them together at the same time in the same waters and you have a full throttle, big wake race.
The workboats and tugs in and around Anacortes will gather for the rebirth of the Anacortes Workboat Races 4 to 7 p.m. Saturday, July 18.
Run many years ago as the Mariners Pageant, the race is now back on and will be held with boats racing in multiple classes. The starting line for each race will be on the Guemes Channel just outside the Port of Anacortes warehouse at the north end of Commercial Avenue.
The best place to watch the races is from seating at the port building or from a boat on the water along the south side of the channel.
A cannon roar will send the boats charging down the channel 1.5 miles to round a buoy in front of Lovric’s Marina. They’ll race back to the finish line with the winner announced by another cannon blast.
Between races, musical entertainment and pirate activities for the kids and adult pirates alike will be provided. Attendees are encouraged to dress in pirate garb.
An awards banquet at Randy’s Pier 61 restaurant will follow the last race of the day.
The Anacortes Workboat Races coincide with Anacortes Shipwreck Day, a community maritime flea market along Commercial Avenue in downtown Anacortes starting at 8 a.m.
Also that day is the annual What the Heck Fest, a celebration of music at various locations around town.
