Ahoy, Mates … It’s Boating Season in La Conner!

Those of us who live in the Northwest know that marinas in the San Juan Islands are a truly beautiful sight. Rows of gorgeous yachts sit next to handsome sailboats – which sit next to charming vintage runabouts and hardworking fishing boats. For those who either enjoy the boating lifestyle, or wish they could, our San Juan Island marinas, including La Conner Marina, provide a wonderful way to dream of our next boat, or dream of our first boat.

A long-standing Northwest tradition is Boating Season Opening Day – which most often occurs early in May. Yacht Clubs don their best navy and white attire, raise the flags and christen the start of boating season with many smiles and requests for sunny skies and warm weather.

La Conner’s boating season kicks off this year on Saturday May 4th, with our traditional Swinomish Yacht Club Opening Day Parade. Whether you own a boat of your own, or you just like looking at boats on the water, this parade offers something for everyone. And if you’d like to join in the parade, you can do that, too!

Parade participants decorate their boats according to the year’s parade theme – this year it’s The Big Dig – in honor of the 2013 Corp of Engineers and Port of Skagit’s work to dredge the entire Swinomish Channel back to a depth that makes it easily navigable for boats of nearly any size. With this year’s theme, it will be fun to see what these madcap boaters come up with for boat and passenger decorations … their imaginations are what always make the Opening Day Parade so much fun!

Join us from several viewing spots along the Swinomish Channel – the parade starts at 3:00pm at the  La Conner Marina Guest Docks and winds its way down the channel and under the Rainbow Bridge, then back to the guest docks.

We’ve got more details on La Conner’s Opening Day Parade here; you’ll also find information on how to enter your boat in the parade if you’d like to join in the fun from the water-side!