Admire classic yachts and tall ships at Edmonds festival

Published 6:22 pm Friday, May 21, 2010

Nothing brings out the inner sailor like a sleek classic wooden yacht, and there will be a dozen or more to lust after at the Edmonds Rotary Waterfront Festival.

But it’s not all boats at the Rotary’s party June 4 to 6. Entertainment, children’s activities (including free fishing at the Willow Creek Fish Hatchery), the Waterfront 5K Run and a couple of tall ships, the Lady Washington and Hawaiian Chieftain, are part of the festivities.

Times for festival events are 3 to 10 p.m. June 4, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. June 5, and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. June 6.

The public can view the classic yachts from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 5 and 6. The boats scheduled to attend range in construction dates from 1920 to 1959. Many of the boats can be boarded, but owners ask that visitors wear soft-soled, nonmarking shoes. (Nothing spoils a spiffy deck like black scuff marks.)

The tall ships will be in Edmonds a bit longer, from June 3 to 14, conducting free tours 4 to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays. At 2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays the two ships conduct “battle sails,” with booming cannons and close-quarter maneuvers. Get sailing information and advance tickets at www.historicalseaport.org.

The ships will visit Cama Beach on Monday and Everett from May 29 to 31.

Information on all Edmonds Rotary Waterfront Festival events is at www.edmondswaterfrontfestival.com.