Page 2

Olympia Washington, dawn on the day of the races.

While some races are gentlemanly, others represent the kind of down & dirty tugboat racing that put Puget Sound on the map.

Three powerful rivals square off once again. SIGRID H, a past winner in the Over 400 hp class edges past her two closest competitors, DOMINION from Canada and long time Harbor Days favorite, DANNIELLE. As they rounded the final turn, SIGRID H found another couple revolutions somewhere and roared straight for the finish line and another checkered flag for her mast.

While the boats in the Small Tug class might be -- well -- small -- the competition is no less fierce. Many of these boats have been racing at Harbor Days for years, like the Bainbridge Island based boat, RELIABLE, skippered by Olympia native Phil Shively (foreground). Other boats in this class include the 100 year old PARTHIA (second from the far end) and DARING, 1998's featured Harbor Days tug. Here, the boats are shown just coming off the starting line.

SANTIAM (L) was considered the Dark Horse of '97's races. She came out of nowhere, with a skipper that was tight lipped about what was "under the hood." Those twin stacks had a great psychological effect on dockside prognosticators. SANTIAM turned out to be as powerful as she looked, and almost took the Under 400hp class, when at the last minute, her skipper shut her down. He wouldn't say why. Such is the stuff of sea stories born.

The other boat in this photo is WALLACE FOSS, once part of the legendary FOSS tugboat fleet. She has been completely restored right down to the last fitting, and has been a Harbor Days favorite for years.

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Photographs and text © 1997, 1998 Carl Cook. All Rights Reserved. May not be reproduced in any manner without permission.
The first and third photographs on this page are originally in color, but have been reproduced here in black & white for faster loading -- and because I like black & white!