Recreational Boating Information for the Northwest
 Covering Puget Sound & San Juan Islands

Seattle Opening Day
Opening Day, the official opening of Seattle's boating season sponsored by the Seattle Yacht Club, includes a celebration of many kinds of water activities. Festivities will include a morning of crew races, a sailboat race, and of course, the grand Opening Day boat parade on Saturday.  

As always, the Opening Day Parade starts at noon the first Saturday in May with the blast of a cannon and the raising of the Montlake Bridge. Seattle Yacht Club's Opening Day has become the nation's largest regional celebration of water, spring, and the opening of boating season. Participating yachts will be decorated to illustrate the 2013 theme for Opening Day, "Hawaiian Magic". 

Opening Day in Seattle is a family affair; families decorate their boats for the festivities and parades; spread blankets on the shoreline and spend hours watching and picnicking. Families dream of the boats they someday will own.

Opening Day offers some outstanding photo and story opportunities. You'll not find anything like it in the U.S. or to our knowledge, in the world. The only thing comparable is an annual parade of commercial vessels in Venice, Italy.

NW Events
Opening Day
4th of July
U.M.F.
Seafair

Opening Day Log Boom Information:

The log boom is on the Northern boundary of the parade route. Note that additional moorage is available on the South side of the parade route near Foster Island.

The log boom is provided by the Seattle Yacht Club and the University of Washington. You use it at your own risk. Neither the Seattle Yacht Club nor the University of Washington are responsible for any injury or damage claims. 

Please use good judgement and good nautical practices when maneuvering and mooring. Pay attention to weather conditions, and help your fellow boaters. No watercraft may cross or be on the parade route while it is closed. 

This is a volunteer effort. If all goes well, the log boom will be installed the Thursday before Opening Day, and removed the Monday following.

NOTE- New in 2011 - The North or Log Boom side requires reservations. Moorage is "first come, first served" for the North side. You may save a spot for your buddy who is a few minutes behind you, but DO NOT try to reserve multiple spots with line, tape or other devices. Please welcome your neighbors. You will meet some great boaters. 

Please respect the clearly marked area on the West (shore) end of the log boom reserved for University of Washington VIPs. 

The parade route closes at 9:40am and does not reopen until the SYC Marshall Boats announce the parade route has reopended, which will be sometime after 2:30pm, depending on the length of the parade. 
Opening Day 1976
Opening Day 1965



2013 
Opening Day of Boating:
Saturday May 4th