Seattle, WA

 2003

Maritime Fest and Tugboat Races

Saturday, May 10, 2003

A typical day in May. It starts out gray and cool, when suddenly the clouds part and -- well, there is nothing quite so beautiful as a Spring day in Seattle.

One of the big surprizes was the showing of the recently refitted VIRGINIA V.  This venerable steamer, the last of  Puget Sound's famed Mosquito Fleet cruised up and down the race course reminding all of this area's vast maritime heritage. No love for things nautical can be complete without a cruise on this vessel.  For more information, click HERE for the Virginia V's webpage.

Tugboat racing on Puget Sound is a traditon that goes back over a hundred years. In Seattle, the races are held on Elliot Bay over  a 2 1/2 mile course starting at he grain elevators, passing the Space Needle and crossing the finish line at the Port of Seattle.

PACIFIC and SHELLY FOSS run together as they head for the starting line and their heat.

5-4-3-2-1  KABOOM!

And There They Go!

Off the line in Class C (heat 1) Small Harbor Tugs, its SKILLFUL, MAGGIE B, CLYDESDALE, and RELIABLE.

Not shown -- RELIANCE, and COTTON No. 6

Getting up to speed, the frontrunners pass the Space Needle, and despite fighting an overheating problem, the speedy CLYDESDALE manages to stay ahead of the pack, for a win -- 19 seconds ahead of second place RELIANCE.