Highlighting the annual Drayton Harbor Days festival this weekend is an appearance of the state's official ship and its seafaring companion - the square-rigged tall ships Lady Washington and Hawaiian Chieftain.
They're visiting Blaine during the city's annual celebration of its maritime heritage and will offer dockside tours and sailing trips, including the popular battle sails that feature a simulated naval engagement. Drayton Harbor Days, which features food, arts and craft vendors, and a variety of maritime activities and displays, is from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 6-7, at Blaine Harbor, 235 Marine Drive.
"We tried very hard to get (the tall ships) and we're thrilled to have them," said Carroll Solomon, of the Blaine Chamber of Commerce. "They blend in so well with the event."
Topsail ketch Hawaiian Chieftain is a replica of a typical European trader from the turn of the 1800s. Lady Washington, the official state ship, is a full-scale reproduction of a brig built in the 1750s. It has been featured in several movies, including "Star Trek: Generations" and the "Pirates of the Caribbean" series, where it was the HMS Interceptor.
Although the tall ships are the main attraction, the 10th annual Prestigious George Raft Race competes for the "wow" factor. The race, which is based on a centuries-old competition held at Lynmouth in the English countryside, features whacky-looking watercraft made from recycled materials.
"People have done everything from lashing milk bottles together with old planks and I think one year somebody had a bathtub," Solomon said. "Sometimes they sink before they get to the finish, and some of them make it."
The race is at 1 p.m. Saturday and starts from the Blaine Harbor public boat launch.
Another event, the West Marine Community Sailing Regatta, pits the recent graduates of the Drayton Harbor Maritime Sailing School in pirate costumes, racing 3-meter (10-foot) Clancy sailboats.
"They're little bitty things, they almost look like toys," Solomon said. That race starts at 11 a.m. Saturday in the inner harbor of Blaine Marina, near Gate 3.
In keeping with the weekend's pirate theme, Northwest Parks and Recreation District 2 is offering Pirate Daze activities for children ages 7 to 12. For $10 registration fee, kids can go aboard the tall ships, join in a treasure hunt, hear pirate stories, sing sea shanties and make a pirate costume.
Dressing in a pirate costume is encouraged for all ages, and costume judging for prizes is at 2 p.m.
Historic foot ferry Plover rides will be offered to the Semiahmoo Spit and back from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday and from noon to 8 p.m. Sunday. Cost is $5 for adults, $1 for children 12 and older; free for children younger than 12.
More than 30 arts and crafts vendors will display their items near the Boardwalk from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Coast Guard will have an information booth and a local man will display models of fishing boats in the Harbor Building
Finally, the Northwest Steamboat Society will parade at 2 p.m. near the Boardwalk and boats will be docked for viewing.
There's free parking along the marina and additional space along the waterfront and across from Marine Park. For more information, go online to blainechamber.com or call 360-332-4544.
TALL SHIPS' SCHEDULE
The Lady Washington and Hawaiian Chieftain will be open for public tours from noon to 5 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 4, and Friday, Aug. 5; and from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 6 and Sunday, Aug. 7. Crew in period costume will answer questions about the ships. A $3 donation per person is requested to climb aboard.
Evening sails are scheduled Thursday, Aug. 4, through Saturday, Aug. 6. Departure times range from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. and last two to three hours. Tickets are $25 to $35, depending on length of trip. Battle sails are Saturday, Aug. 6 and Sunday, Aug. 7. Tickets are $60 for adults; $50 for students, seniors and active military; and $40 for children 12 and younger.
For specific schedule information and pricing, and to buy tickets, go online to historicalseaport.org and look for "public sails schedule" or call 800-200-5239.
DRAYTON HARBOR DAYS
When: Saturday and Sunday Aug. 6-7.
Where: Blaine Harbor, 235 Marine Drive.
Admission: Free; there is a charge for some events.
