Race Day 1999
Olympia, Washington

It's congratulations as CLIVE out of Vancouver, British Columbia crosses the finish line first against tough competitors PARTHIA (left) and FLYER. CLIVE is owned by retired tug skipper and owner, Thor Larsen of Vancouver.



Winners in 1999's Harbor Days races
Small Tugs
1. Reliable - Bainbridge Island
2. Henrietta Foss - Seattle
3. Cedar King - Olympia		 Under 400hp
1. Clive - Vancouver, B.C.
2. Flyer - Seattle
3. Parthia - Vashon Island		 Over 400hp
1. Danielle - Shelton
2. Fury - Seattle
3. Skookum Navigator - Seattle		 Unlimited
1. General Knox - Tacoma
2. Mary L - Seattle
3. Henry Foss - Tacoma

Olympia, WA (Sept. 5) Fewer tugs then in years past were entered in this year's races -- about 18 total. Some boat skippers chose to sit the races out, opting for standing off the race course and providing a viewing platform for their guests. Perrenial favorites such as JOE, PARTHIA, RELIABLE and MARY L put on great shows, as did museum boat ARTHUR FOSS (see below) RUSTLER, and others.

Also unusual this year, was the weather. Normally under warm , even hot skies, it rained during this year's races. Can you imagine? Rain in Washington State? It boggles the mind!













Phil Shively's RELIABLE out of Bainbridge Island, WA took the trophy in the small tugs class. His working boat is a past Harbor Days winner. Here she is shown sporting a huge bone in her teeth, edging out the restored HENRIETTA FOSS (left) and RUSTLER (right). RUSTLER, built in 1887, is still in operation as a working tug.




In the exciting unlimited heat, MARY L went up against her dreaded foe, the U.S. Army's GENERAL KNOX, which ran on the opposite side of the race course - far right of this photo. MARY L's skipper knew from past experience what happens when a boat gets too close to KNOX's bow wake (see the 1997 race page).

In this photo, MARY L has the lead over the powerful tractor tug, HENRY FOSS and JUDY M, a former Foss boat. GENERAL KNOX was the winner, followed by MARY L and HENRY FOSS. JUDY M dropped back and a new boat to Harbor Days, MAGIC took fourth place.

This was probably MARY L's last Harbor Days apperance. She is being given to a non-profit organization for use as a school. Unless the students bring her to a future race on Budd Inlet, it is farewell and good-luck to this powerful and quite handsome tug.

Foss Maritime's, HENRY FOSS prepares to give her ancient sister, ARTHUR FOSS (b.1889) a push for the start of the demonstration run. ARTHUR was featured in the 1933 film, Tugboat Annie starring Wallace Berry and Marie Dresler. The boat is now operated as a "living museum," by the non-profit Northwest Seaport. She is crewed by volunteers.

Many thanks to Scott Schoch, our press boat driver this year. His beautifully restored Chris Craft runabout powered by Chevy made shooting the races extra thrilling -- not to mention the fact that Schoch, a tugboater by trade, is an outstanding driver.

All photographs © copyright 1999, Carl Cook. All rights reserved. May not be reproduced in any manner without permission. This includes internet use. Photographs are watermark imbedded and registered with Digimarc.

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