This website is best viewed at a screen setting of 1024 x 768 pixels.

Get out of the way because...

HERE THEY COME! 

Tugboat Racing on Puget Sound

>

Seattle Maritime Fest Seattle, WA Second weekend in May I'm sorry, but illness prevents me from covering the races. Here's hoping for 2006           Note:  Tacoma's Maritime Fest no longer hold tugboat races. There is a link below to Tacoma's last race (2002).

Olympia, WA My name is Carl Cook. I'm a photojournalist based here in Washington's Capitol City.

 Twice a year, I stop whatever else I am doing, and head for the water and to  one of Puget Sounds great tugboat race events. 

It started in 1984 with the Harbor Days races in Olympia. Since then, I've shot all the action there.  SPAR's first thrilling victory in 1992, MARY L's fight to the death with the Army's GENERAL KNOX in '97-- and the time MARY L towed 15 water skiers for the half-time show.

In 1986, I married a couple (with my handy-dandy Universal Life Church ticket) on the deck of SAND MAN. We started the ceremony on the five minute warning, with the "I now pronounce you's" on the starting cannon. The couple almost fell off the stern as the boat roared off the line!

 And of course there was the wild PARTHIA / ELF matchup of 2002. 

And the even wilder PARTHIA / CAYOU race in 2003 -- so wild I can't even publish some of the pictures!

In 1998, I added Seattle and (briefly), Tacoma to my list of places to be when the working boats go off at the line.  Photographic coverage of some of those races are here on this page. I hope you enjoy them.

                        Racing Tug Calendar!

 In 1997, I offered a calendar containing a small selection (14) of the  photos I've  made at Olympia's tug festival.  Want one? They're free! Just pay postage and handling --  $3US (each) (for USA addresses); $4.50US for Canadian. More for other countries (I'll check when you write).

E-mail me for the address to send your check -- clcook@olywa.net
The calendar is in glorious black & white!

Bonus! The dates and days for the year 2014 are exactly the same as 1997! Buy one now and put it away! On January 1, 2014, put this "antique" on your wall and fool everyone! Better hurry and get one while they're still  free -- and while they last!  There are less then a dozen calendars left!

 This is a great gift for anyone who lives in the past -- or who might want a calendar for the year 2014! Beat the rush!

Race coverage from previous years

**Notice: Due to storage restrictions, I might have to remove the races pages covering 1997-1999.  For your own historical archives,  you might want to click on the pages (below) and save them to your hard drive

A gallery of tug and tug racing photos that will be added to as time allows. Click on the boat.

Anyone living in the south Puget Sound area and interested in maritime history, knows about SAND MAN. This tug, built in 1910 and based her entire life in Olympia had a long and hard working life. In recent years, she really began to show her age, and in fact had a brief encounter with Davy Jones's locker! A group of dedicated volunteers stepped up and did what needed to be done. Click on the photo (right) to go to the official SAND MAN web site.  This image is available as a large postcard -- measuring 6x8 inches. Price is $1.50 each plus .75 postage and handling*.  Net proceeds will go to the Sand Man Foundation. For the mailing address, email clcook@olywa.net. I think I can send about five cards out for the same postage price. * USA orders. More for other countries. Please inquire. Sorry about the high cost of P&H. Talk to the Post Office about it.