Discover races, festivals, sailing classes, and rendezvous across the Pacific Northwest. From competitive racing to community cruiser gatherings.
The largest boat show in the western United States featuring hundreds of new boats, gear, and marine services from top manufacturers. Held at Lumen Field Event Center, the show showcases sailboats, powerboats, fishing vessels, and cruising equipment. Ideal for shopping, comparing models, and meeting exhibitors.
A season-opening PHRF and one-design regatta on Puget Sound drawing 60–90 boats. Course set in the central Sound with finish near the marina. Good intro race for boats new to the circuit. Social gathering and awards Saturday evening.
The Pacific Northwest's oldest and most beloved boating tradition. Hundreds of decorated boats parade through the Lake Washington Ship Canal under the Montlake Bridge, followed by collegiate crew races. Spectators line the canal banks from Fremont to Portage Bay. Open to all boats — register through the Seattle Yacht Club to join the parade.
One-day FCC-approved Marine Radio Operator Permit (MROP) course covering distress calling procedures, DSC operation, VHF channel assignments, and proper radio etiquette. The MROP is required to operate a VHF radio in international waters and strongly recommended for all offshore passages. Course fee includes exam. Results submitted to FCC same day.
Annual waterfront celebration at Cap Sante Boat Haven with live music, local seafood, boat demos, and maritime arts. Gateway to San Juan Island cruising season — many boaters time their northbound departure with the festival weekend.
An annual offshore sailing race from Victoria, BC across the Strait of Juan de Fuca and back. One of North America's premier ocean racing events, drawing competitive sailing teams from throughout the Pacific Northwest and beyond. A challenging 24-hour+ race featuring strong winds and currents.
A classic Puget Sound offshore race circumnavigating Blake, Vashon, and Maury Islands — roughly 55 nautical miles. Open to PHRF and IRC-rated boats. One of the longest single-day races in the Sound. Evening start Friday, finish Saturday morning.
750 miles. No motor. No support. Human and wind power only, from Port Townsend to Ketchikan, Alaska. One of the most extreme and celebrated amateur offshore races on earth. Stage 1 starts in Port Townsend; teams qualifying advance to the main race start in Victoria, BC. Free to spectate — the Port Townsend start is a must-see spectacle.
Weekly Wednesday evening buoy races on Puget Sound running June through August. Multiple PHRF and one-design divisions. Start times vary by sunset — typically 6:00–6:30 PM. One of the best ways to get competitive sailing experience in Seattle without committing to a full offshore regatta. Beer and camaraderie on the dock after every race.
70 nautical miles from Tacoma to Port Townsend in 48 hours or less — human power only. No sails, no motors: rowing, paddling, pedaling, or any combination. Teams race through the southern Sound, across the Narrows, and up the eastern Strait of Juan de Fuca. Draws everything from racing shells to outrigger canoes to custom pedalboats. A unique PNW spectacle.
ASA-certified sailing fundamentals course covering basic sailing theory, boat handling, and on-water practice. Perfect entry point for complete beginners or those seeking formal certification. Two-day intensive weekend course held on Puget Sound with qualified ASA instructors and keelboat vessels.
The premier one-design championship on Puget Sound, drawing top fleets from clubs across Washington State. Multiple class divisions racing buoy courses in the central Sound. Highly competitive with strong club team participation.
Three-day ASA 103 certification course teaching coastal cruising skills: sail trim, anchoring, docking in current, piloting, and overnight passages. Prerequisite: ASA 101 and 103 or equivalent experience. Limited to 4 students per boat for maximum hands-on time. Graduates earn ASA 103 certification required for bareboat charters in most jurisdictions.
A human-powered crossing of Puget Sound from Edmonds to the Kingston or Mukilteo area and back — roughly 8–10 nautical miles each way depending on conditions. Open to rowboats, kayaks, canoes, SUPs, and any non-motorized vessel. A unique test of fitness and seamanship with strong tidal currents to navigate.
Classic Fourth of July sailing race starting and finishing at Shilshole Bay Marina. Circumnavigates Vashon Island with views of the Olympic Mountains and Mount Rainier. A friendly, competitive event for all skill levels with divisions for different boat types. Social gathering with awards ceremony and fireworks.
Four-day live-aboard ASA 104 course cruising the San Juan Islands. Covers chartplotter navigation, passage planning, boat systems, provisioning, and advanced anchoring and docking. Participants sleep aboard and cook their own meals — real cruising, not a classroom. Prerequisite: ASA 103 or demonstrated coastal cruising experience. Limited enrollment.
Six days of racing in the protected waters of Saratoga Passage and Deception Pass area. One of the Pacific Northwest's premier regatta weeks with PHRF, one-design, and cruising divisions. Evening parties, crew seminars, and a legendary prizegiving make it a full sailing vacation.
Combine a San Juans cruise with the annual Friday Harbor jazz festival. The Port of Friday Harbor reserves transient slips for arriving boaters during the festival weekend — book well in advance. Live music spills onto the waterfront. A genuine PNW summer highlight that pairs perfectly with a week-long San Juan Islands cruise.
Annual informal gathering of cruising boats anchoring at Protection Island, a wildlife sanctuary off the coast of Port Townsend. A relaxed, self-organized event where cruisers share meals, stories, and camaraderie. Offers spectacular views of wildlife including deer, eagles, and seals on this protected island.
Four days of PHRF and cruising-class racing in the spectacular San Juan Islands archipelago. Course areas include courses through the islands and open Strait of Juan de Fuca legs. Entries come from Washington, Oregon, and British Columbia. Finish line cocktails at the Friday Harbor marina make this the social highlight of the summer sailing season.
A loosely organized week-long rally into Desolation Sound with daily anchorage suggestions, group dinners at Refuge Cove, and informal buddy-boating through Princess Louisa Inlet. Desolation Sound has some of the warmest swimming water in the Pacific Northwest — up to 75°F in August. Participants check in via VHF Ch. 68 each morning.
Three-day annual gathering of cruising boats exploring Hood Canal, one of the Pacific Northwest's most scenic waterways. Group cruising to anchorages, group dinners, and informal educational sessions. Celebration of the unique ecosystem and cruising experience of this pristine 80-mile fjord-like canal.
Annual gathering of cruising sailors at Cap Sante Boat Haven before the summer season winds down. Group dinners, seminars on San Juan Island and Gulf Island cruising routes, a swap meet for used marine gear, and informal dinghy racing in the harbor. Typically 80–120 boats. A great meetup for anyone planning a fall cruise north to Canada.
Annual gathering of catamaran and trimaran sailors exploring Puget Sound and the San Juan Islands. Three-day rendezvous with group cruising, social events, and shared meals. Community focused on connecting multihull enthusiasts, sharing cruising information, and enjoying the unique handling characteristics of these fast, stable vessels.
A two-day PHRF buoy-and-distance regatta in Bellingham Bay and the northern Salish Sea. Known for its strong breeze and complex current sets near Lummi Island. A closing-of-season race for Northern Puget Sound fleets before fall settles in. Saturday night dock party at BYC included in entry fee.
The largest wooden boat festival in North America celebrating traditional maritime craftsmanship, sailing heritage, and the culture of wooden boats. Features live music, maritime talks, wooden boat races, hands-on workshops, and vessel tours. Draws maritime enthusiasts, craftspeople, and sailors from across the continent.
A one-day distance race from Kingston south through Hood Canal to Port Gamble and back — approximately 30 nautical miles round trip. The dramatic fall light over the Olympics and reliable September thermal winds make this one of the most scenic races on the calendar. Simple, low-cost entry with a finish line potluck.
End-of-season gathering at the southern tip of Puget Sound in Olympia. Seminars on winterizing, boat storage, and spring commissioning. Swap meet, dock crawl, and a Saturday night salmon dinner. Draws boats from Tacoma south — a low-key, social event for South Sound sailors.
Five-weekend PHRF distance and buoy racing series running October through November. The fall series is less crowded than summer regattas but no less competitive — autumn Puget Sound winds are stronger and more consistent. Multiple class divisions. Weekly standings posted online.
Fall offshore race rounding Foulweather Bluff at the north end of Hood Canal — about 70 nautical miles. True to its name, this late-season race often delivers challenging conditions with building fall swells and gusty northerly winds. A serious test for offshore-oriented crews. Finish and debrief at Shilshole.
Two-day shore-based seminar covering offshore passage planning, heavy weather tactics, storm sail use, EPIRB and life raft deployment, medical emergencies at sea, and routing to Hawaii and Mexico. Aimed at experienced sailors considering their first offshore passage. Includes a panel of local sailors who have completed the Pacific Cup, Vic-Maui, or circumnavigations.
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