First Annual Center for Wooden Boats Thunderbird Rendezvous and Regatta

by Suzy Brunzell,  August 2005

All photos by Cliff Estes at Borrowed Light Images. www.borrowedlightimages.com

While many may think that the only boat racing that takes place on Sea Fair Weekend is on Lake Washington, many Thunderbird sailors would now argue differently.  The Center for Wooden Boats, with the cooperation of the local Thunderbird fleets, started a new tradition by hosting its first Lake Union Thunderbird Rendezvous & Regatta on August 5-7 a.k.a Sea Fair Weekend .  Over two dozen Thunderbird owners from all over the Northwest flocked to spend the weekend on the South Shore of Lake Union .   Boats came from as far south as the Columbia River , as far West as Port Townsend and as far North as Everett , bringing enthusiastic crews with them.  Every Thunderbird Fleet on Puget Sound was represented – Fleet 1 Gig Harbor/Tacoma, Fleet 2  Seattle & Fleet 13  Everett/Edmonds – creating the largest Thunderbird gathering of this century.

With over 2 dozen participating boats, consistent wind, sun, and a deserted lake, conditions were right for two exciting days of Thunderbird racing.    Two fleets were formed, the Regular Racers and Occasional Racers/Cruisers, with separate starts.  The course was laid out “Duck Dodge” style and the racing began.  Jamie Storkman and his crew on #9 Fandango showed everyone that these South Sound racers were serious.  It seemed only the Northwest Regional Champion, Mark Harang, on #447 Rev could beat Storkman.  Fortunately for Storkman and the rest of the racers, Harang could only race half the regatta.  Close behind the Harang- Storkman duel, four boats were in contention for the second & third place trophies.  Battling it out were Leschi sailors Dale Dunning of #20 Water Torture, Suzanne Diess of #542 Thatuna – Fish & Chicks, Kemp Jones of #60 Barbaree, and Everett racer Duane Emnott of #262 Kalua.  When the day ended each fleet had a representative on the podium, #9 Fandango (Fleet 1) held onto first, #20 Water Torture (Fleet 2) captured second and #262 Kalua (Fleet 13) placed third by edging #542 Thatuna – Fish & Chicks & #60 Barbaree by one point.  In the Occasional Racer/Cruiser Division, local Lake Union boat #567Pangloss skippered by James Donnette finished first, Shilshole’s Jim Konigsfeld drove #199 Blackbird to a second place and Everett’s #1194 Lila skippered by Jon Reckinger sailed into third place.

In addition to great racing, the Center for Wooden Boats’ Gallery displayed the Gig Harbor Historical Musuem’s exhibit chronicling the history and heritage of the local Ben Seaborn and Ed Hoppen designed and built Thunderbird.   History was also alive on the shore as Mark Bricknell’s Hull #2 arrived by trailer to the rendezvous.  Hull #2 was Ed Hoppen’s family boat and one of the earliest professionally built Thunderbirds.  On the water, Hulls #5 Wisp and #60 Barbaree represented 2 of the 3 first home-built Thunderbirds.  Wally Larsen, one of the original four home-builders, reported that #5 Wisp, #6 Larsen’s boat and #60 Barbaree took part in the 1961 Opening Day Parade as motorboats since none had their sailing rigs yet.

On Friday & Saturday evenings, a Speaker Series was organized.  Michael Murphy shared a cruising account in which he sailed #953 Hussy II to Princess Louisa Inlet with three friends to embark on a climbing expedition and telemark ski trip.  Sandy Pratt outlined the racing inspired innovations that had been made to the Thunderbird One-Design Class over the decades and speculated on the impact of allowing T-birds to race with a J-24 spinnaker next year.  Darrell Emnott and Gordy Esterberg spoke about building their early home-built Thunderbirds #149 Witherbound and #262 Kalua in the early 1960s.  Mark Hoppen, Ed Hoppen’s oldest son, recounted memories of his father and growing up in his dad’s shop Eddon Boat Works while the early T-birds were built.

Such a good time was had by all in attendance that talks of next year’s CWB Thunderbird Rendezvous & Regatta were started on the docks before this year’s event even finished.  So the new tradition of another boat race on Sea Fair weekend has begun and the Center for Wooden Boats looks forward to seeing more Thunderbirds next year for more fun and better racing.   

All photos by Cliff Estes at Borrowed Light Images.