Contact: Ann Grimm
Port of Bellingham
(360) 676-2500 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 25, 2007
CELEBRATE OPENING DAY OF BOATING SEASON
May 5 at Squalicum Harbor
[Bellingham, Wash.] Opening Day of Boating Season festivities are shaping up to kick off another great year of boating. Boats of all shapes and sizes will commence with traditional pomp and ceremony along with other special events that will launch Opening Day on Saturday, May 5 at Squalicum Harbor Marina.
The Bellingham Yacht Club's ceremony will be followed by a floating celebration-a parade across the bay. This year's theme is The Great Cartoons Afloat Show. Great shore side viewing of the parade can be found at Boulevard Park and the Taylor Street Pier.
Schedule of Events
7 - 11 a.m. Opening Day Breakfast hosted by the Squalicum Yacht Club
Suggested donation: $4 per person. All proceeds will benefit the Bellingham Food Bank. SYC Bridge officers and members will be on hand to share information about the club and their activities.
9 - 11 a.m. Second Annual Gear Swap hosted by the Corinthian Yacht Club
Gather the gear from your garage, boat locker or anywhere else for the gear swap which will be located outside the Squalicum Yacht Club near Seaview North Boatyard's gate. There is a suggested $5 donation for each booth to support the Maritime Heritage Society.
9 - 4 p.m. Free Vessel Safety Checks, by Bellingham Sail and Power Squadron and U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Safety Examiners
As a public service, Safety Examiners will be offering free vessel safety checks at Gate 3. Safety checks will be done on a first come-first served basis. Several examiners will be on hand to assist. For more information contact:
Peter Border, FSO-VE, at (360) 733-8187 (USCG Aux); or
Merle Herrett, (360) 354-7026 (Sail & Power Squadron)
12:00 p.m. Opening Day Ceremony and Blessing of the Fleet
At Gate 3 in front of Bellingham Yacht Club (open to all)
1:00 p.m. "Boats Away!"
For parade (open to all vessels)
1:30 p.m. Boats Rendezvous at Bellingham Cruise Terminal
For parade start, to follow lead boat Sunstar
For additional information on Opening Day activities, please call the Squalicum Harbor Office at (360) 676-2542, Ken Malseed, Bellingham Yacht Club Fleet Commander at (360) 733-1411 or the Bellingham Yacht Club website.
The Port of Bellingham operates Whatcom County's major transportation terminals including the Bellingham Airport, Fairhaven Transportation Station and the Bellingham Cruise Terminal. The Port also serves about 2,000 moorage customers in its Blaine and Squalicum Harbors.
In addition, about 300 businesses operate on Port properties, which are managed by the Port Real Estate Division. The Port of Bellingham is a countywide independent special purpose government.
