What a sight!

 

Olympia, Washington. Sept. 3, 2000

Tugboats pass in review for the camera and to the excitement of onlookers in their pleasure boats. This photo is part of the 2001 Harbor Days poster -- available for $10 (postage included) while supplies last. Contact Harbor Days for details. There is a link to their web site below.  

 

 

 

 

Headed up by Joe (right), boats leave Percival Landing, for the race course. After Joe, is Maggie B. In the center is Fury, and tied together on the left is Henry Foss and her sister, Duncan Foss. Washington's Capitol building dominates the background.

 


Olympia, WA (Sept. 3) Nineteen boats took part in 2000's Harbor Days festival. Although there was some rain last year, this time Mother Nature got serious about it. On Saturday, the rain came down in buckets accompanied by hail. The spirits of not a few crafts vendors were dampened by the storm. In the meantime, boats came in, tied up, crews renwed old aquaintances, and met new ones. As the rains came, newcomers to Olympia ducked for cover, and old timers with their webbed feet went on like nothing was unusual.

 

The weather cleared for Sunday's races. In the first heat, the tiny Olympia boat, Adeline (left) put up a good fight against race veterans. Rustler, Nainaimo Tillicum, and the beautifully restored Henrietta Foss. But alas, all wound up eating Maggie B's smoke!  

Incidently, Rustler, built in 1887, is the oldest working tugboat on Puget Sound.

Winners in 2000's Harbor Days races

Small Tugs
1. Maggie B - Stanwood
2. Nainaimo Tillicum - Garden Bay, B.C.
3. Reliable - Bainbridge Island
4. Cedar King - Olympia		 Harbor Tugs
1. Marlin II - Gig Harbor
2. El Capitan - Suquamish
3. Parthia - Vashon Island
4. Fury - Seattle		 Unlimited
1. Mary L - Seattle
2.Duncan Foss - Tacoma
3. Henry Foss - Tacoma
4. Magic - Poulsbo


The water churns as the tractor, Henry Foss gains on newcomer, Earnest from Seattle who eventually dropped back, finishing 5th. Seattle's Mary L took her fifth career flag in this heat, Duncan Foss crossed second, Henry came in third.

Overheard on the radio:

Unknown voice: "Henry Foss, it is a tradition to at least try to beat Mary L !"

From Henry: "I'm trying, I'm trying!"

             

 

 

It's all waves from Mary L! Last year, it was thought she would retire from racing after passing from private ownership, but as she is probably the fastest tug in her class on Puget Sound, the new owners saw no reason to quit. Mary L was donated to the American Institute of Maritime Studies in Seattle for use in training of maritime skills to troubled youth and for use as a research vessel.

 





 

 

 

 

 

Magic is probably the only tug in the world, or at least on the Sound that has its own pipers! Do you know -- not even the roar of the helicopter could drown out the sound of those infernal -- uh, I mean those FINE instruments of antiquity?

 

Many thanks to Jose Balmores, our press boat driver this year, and Mike of Glacier Helecopters for an exciting flight.

All photographs © copyright 2000, 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.

Click HERE for more information about Harbor Days in Olympia, Washington USA

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