Upcoming maritime festival to feature tall ship, raft race

The Drayton Harbor Days maritime festival is approaching, giving Blaine and Birch Bay residents a chance to participate in a variety of maritime-themed activities.

The festival will take place on Saturday, August 3 and Sunday, August 4 at the Blaine Harbor Boating Center, 235 Marine Drive.

As part of the annual festival, the public will have the chance to climb aboard tall ship Lady Washington after it arrives at Blaine Harbor on Friday, August 2. That day, vessel tours will be offered from 2 to 6 p.m. with a $5 suggested donation.

On Saturday, vessel tours will be offered from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Adventure sails will take place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. ($49-55) and from 2 to 4 p.m. ($59-79). On Sunday, tours will again be offered from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., with an adventure sail from 2 to 4 p.m. ($59-79).

The adventure sails will feature live demonstrations, including a close-up look at traditional methods of tall ship handling. For more information and tickets, visit historicalseaport.org.

Another highlight of Drayton Harbor Days will be the Prestigious George Raft Race. Participating teams will race vessels made from a wide variety of materials. The event, inspired by a similar race that has taken place in England since the middle ages, will commence at 1 p.m. on Saturday, August 3 at the Blaine Harbor public boat launch.

Richard Sturgill, founding director, said he has seen racers get extremely creative when designing their raft. “Rafts have been made of plastic milk jugs, Styrofoam, bits and pieces of wood, large 50-gallon blue plastic barrels lashed together, inner tubes rafts – you name it and it was probably used in the race,” Sturgill said.

“The race can get quite competitive with rafts going head to head with near photo finishes. Many have failed before, at the starting line with some sinking along the way, to the spectators’ delight.”

All participants will be required to sign a release form and wear a proper flotation device. Racers are required to sit on top of their raft, not in. Supplies to build the raft can be purchased from stores, but an entire watercraft cannot be purchased for use in the race, Sturgill said.

The first place winner will be awarded the notorious Prestigious George Raft Race Trophy.

The festival’s other activities include arts and crafts, kids’ games, a scavenger hunt, model boat and steam boat displays, a pirate parade and costume contest, a pet contest and an outdoor movie night. For a full listing of activities, visit blainechamber.com.