Every year, around this time, Washington State celebrates a past time that is deeply rooted in two major industries; maritime and aviation. The boating communities and flight communities make a great combination and it is culminated every year with Washington’s biggest celebration, Seafair.
Hydroplanes, airplanes and jet fighters all show up to put on a show for the thousands watching from sea and land. The day starts off with boats gathering just on the north side of I-90 to watch the Blue Angels perform and “wow” us with their high speed aerial displays and death deifying acts that would make the ordinary person rigid with fear.
The views are astounding and give you the feeling that being a fighter pilot would be the coolest thing to do. From the water the Blue Angels speed buy in close formation then pull back into a rapid climb.
After all the cheering and whistling the Blue Angels finish up, I-90 reopens and everyone is their boats heads through the east passage way to the Hydroplanes. To think I-5 is crazy during rushing is an understatement to what it feels like from the water. Boats are just every where but from what I saw everyone was doing really good just cruising on in and being safe.
Then it is time for hydro racing. Boats line up on the long boom just to see the hydros smoking across the water at speeds excess of a 120mph. Everything went smoothly until today when a “official protest has been filed by Schumacher Racing contesting the results of Sunday’s Chevrolet Cup in Seattle, specifically a penalty called against their team prior to the start of the final heat”.
Lake Washington is a gorgeous lake with two bridges and some of the most spectacular homes. Over looking the lake, these mansions were designed with picture perfect landscaping, private beach fronts, cable cars and long docks for big celebrations. So it is no surprise when people border the shorelines, near the bridges, and hurled water balloons, sprayed boats with water cannons while the boats anxiously returned fire.
Sea Fair 2008 was a complete success and with this coming week already here I will be another 363 days until the next Seafair Sunday arrives.
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