April 30, 2006: Opening Day Week
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When I arrived to the Northwest from the South, and particularly Florida, I was unaware of the concept of an "opening day" to the boating season. In Florida, everyday is a boating day, and the concept was absolutely foreign to me. Opening day is the first "semi" official kick-off of the summer boating season. While the rest of the country is basking in 70 - 80 degree weather, the Pacific Northwest can easily be in rainy 50 degree weather . The first weekend of May symbolizes the beginning of boating season, and is celebrated by the University of Washington, wonderment Real Estate, and the Seattle Yacht Club, hosting one of the largest rowing regattas in the region. There are literally thousands of people who line "the cut", a canal linking Lake Washington and Lake Union and at the beginning of the cut there are hundreds of boats refuted together in a log boom. You can see a picture of the log boom at the bottom part of the page .


We spent the week hanging out on the docks. Generally an uneventful time and a great experience.

April 30, 2006: Elliott Bay Marina to Portage Bay, Seattle Yacht Club Dock 0
Temp: 65
Wind: SSW 8 - 10
Conditions: Overcast
Crew: John Y., Russel K., Gordon N., Bob, Cae, Ali and Cooper
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The Plan (Section contributed April 13, 2006):
The crew will assemble at Elliott Bay Marina to take Moonlight & Magnolia's through the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks, open (raise) seven drawbridges on our way into Portage Bay where the Seattle Yacht Club is located. This will be the first time Moonlight will be through the locks under the new owners...Cae and Bob. If all goes well, we will be buying the crew cold beersby 4:00PM April 30, 2006.


The Hiram M. Chittenden Locks - Background (April 13, 2006):
The locks will be a memorable part of our journey. We are expecting a large number of other vessels, and as first timers, we are ensuring we have plenty of crew. To check out the locks, click here.