Opening Day 2026, May 2nd
We are pleased to continue our involvement with the celebration of Opening Day of the Boating Season - for over one hundred years a Northwest tradition hosted by the Seattle Yacht Club. Like every year, Opening Day of boating will be held the first Saturday in May. A weekend known for a high likelihood of both a sunburn and torrential downpour in the same day.
Our Opening Day Host – The Seattle Yacht Club
The Seattle Yacht Club has extended a special invitation to ACBS members to join in all of their Opening Day festivities. Stop by the club Wednesday through Saturday. For information on all the SYC/Opening Day activities please visit www.seattleyachtclub.org.
THE SKIT!
This year’s PNW-ACBS Opening Day SPIRIT CLASS Skit will be “Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness,” a celebration of the 250th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, featuring Members of Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) and Sons of the American Revolution (SAR).
Speaking of boat decor, there will be a Special Prize for the best decorated PNW-ACBS Opening Day boat!
This collaboration between our ACBS chapter and the Sons and Daughters of the American Revolution will be a fun way to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the birth of our Nation and to connect with others who are passionate about history.
As always, we will be registered in the Spirit Class for the parade. There isn’t another category that would really apply to us. SYC guidelines for the Spirit Class: “Any fleet which exhibits crowd-pleasing Spirit AND Enthusiasm in attire, decoration and actions. Each entry will be judged on the following categories: crew and guest actions, attire, fleet spirit, fleet seamanship and fleet overall look.” Please keep this in mind when passing by the judges, on the first boats on the south side after the cut .
As always, the main goal is to have fun and have as many boats as possible participating, so a costume is not required.
SCHEDULE FOR THE WEEKEND
Friday Evening: Opening Day Dinner is at Chinooks at Fisherman’s Terminal @ 6:00, we have reservations for the maximum of 16. More are welcome with your own groups. Moorage for dinner and breakfast is available in front of Chinooks. Leave extra fenders out for possible rafting. Overnight moorage is available slip #61, click for moorage map (fill out envelope with contact info, they will call you for payment).
Saturday Morning: Breakfast will be at the Bay Cafe at Fisherman's Terminal in "The Back Room" starting at 9AM. Skippers meeting and final Parade details announced by Steve Snider, and Skippers get your free Tricorn hat. Contact Steve if you need a ride, and come to breakfast.
Saturday Noon: We will head from Fisherman’s Terminal towards the parade staging area at Portage Bay. If you have a handheld VHF (ch 68) that will be helpful to monitor parade progress.
Saturday approx 2:00: This is when we typically take our turn going through the cut, at the direction of the SYC Parade Director (ch 68) Remember to have SPIRIT! After the parade we typically head straight to the Conibear Shellhouse, but it is important to make sure the crew boats have had enough time to get back to the crew house and shells put away.
Saturday Afternoon: after the parade, lunch at the UW Husky Crew House: Following the parade we’ll arrive at the Conibear Shellhouse, home of the University of Washington Rowing Crew. Bring your own lunch; we will picnic on the crew house dock or up in the cafeteria. Around 3:30 after the parade has ended, the green light will be turned on for boat traffic west through the cut and we can return to Lake Union.
"Reply" for Opening Day questions and comments email Chair Steve Snider. For questions about our skit, email Brenda Chrystie. Their phone numbers are available through our Wild Apricot phone app, or our website.
