The Current

BY RANDY WOODS

[ SUMMER FEST REDUX ]

Shiver me timbers! Seafair (seafair.org) will be returning to the Seattle area this summer, but don’t expect much cannon fire from the pirates. There will still be quite a few lingering limitations or cancellations of large public events from the region’s pandemic restrictions. First the bad news: This year, organizers said there will be no live performances of the HomeStreet Bank Cup hydroplane races, the July 4th fireworks at Gas Works Park, the Milk Carton Derby at Green Lake, or the Blue Angels air show. This is all terribly disappointing to anyone who loves the annual traditions of the citywide maritime festival. But the good news is that some events will still happen, partially in person and partially online. For example, those interested in the Milk Carton Derby are encouraged to create their floating contraptions at home and enter them online for a chance to win prizes. The hydroplane races and air show will also be simulated online, with boat drivers competing from home and Blue Angel pilots available for interviews with fans. The Seafair Triathlon (July 25) will be held in limited fashion on a course in Sammamish State Park, while the 5K Torchlight Run (July 31) can be done virtually or in-person. From Aug. 2-6, Fleet Week will be virtual, but it will include more than 100 maritime-related activities online. The Torchlight Parade series, to be held in July and August, will be an expansion of last year’s modified version, featuring Seafair caravans that will move through various neighborhoods each week through a nomination process.

[ THIS MONTH’S MEET-UPS ]

After a long 2020 hiatus, the best summer parties of the year are returning from pandemic lockdowns. Here are some of the most prominent rendezvous this month. Covid caveat: Be sure to check ahead on all rendezvous websites for updates on any last-minute restrictions, roll-backs, or cancellations due to pandemic protocols.

July 9-15

Multiple destinations around the Sound This weeklong “roaming rendezvous” allows all kinds of boats to join in and involves trips of 10-16 nautical miles per day with overnight stops in seven ports, from Olympia to Port Townsend, Washington.

July 15-18

Port Orchard Marina, Port Orchard Chris Craft owners and their families are welcome to join for four days of fun, camaraderie, and an appreciation of classic boats. Between 60 and 80 boats are expected to attend, so please visit the website for the latest details and availability.

July 16-18

Port of Poulsbo Marina, Poulsbo Starting with cocktails, appetizers, and socializing on Friday evening, the weekend’s activities consist of a Captain’s meeting, educational events, afternoon sailing, and the infamous “CSR Marine Bow Thruster Blender,” topped off with blueberry pancakes on Sunday.

[ HOP ON BOARD WITH THESE FRESH FIXATIONS FROM OUR LOG BOOK ]

BY KATE CALAMUSA

When news leaked this spring that Amazon founder Jeff Bezos was rumored to have commissioned a 417-foot-long luxury superyacht that comes with a helipad equipped “support yacht” (that’s a new one!), we couldn’t help but wonder what groundbreaking features will end up on board the local billionaire’s boat. Well, the world’s top yacht designers and engineers sure have a few ideas on that front, including these three recently released innovative concepts—take note of this tech, Mr. Bezos.

Descend into the depths, without ever getting wet, with the Hydrosphere underwater glass elevator. Designed by London-based firm Gresham Yacht Design (greshamyachtdesign.com), this ingenious structure extends out from the hull of the vessel in mere minutes to offer 360-degree views of the marine creatures and wondrous topography below. Seating up to seven guests with onboard lighting to help illuminate the waters, the luxe lounge can even be deployed while underway (up to a max speed of 2 knots); when not in use, the pressure shell retracts back into the hull, protected by an external hatch and parked above the waterline.

Saving the planet many, many, many plastic bottles at a time, this new 185-foot hybrid sailboat is the world’s first sea-cleaning vessel designed to collect, treat, and repurpose large volumes of floating plastic debris from the ocean waters. The Manta is the creation of The SeaCleaners (theseacleaners.org) consortium, which was founded by world-renowned Franco-Swiss sailor Yvan Bourgnon after witnessing the rise of ocean pollutants firsthand. She can snap up to three tons of refuse per hour and operates autonomously 75% of the time, thanks to the energy created by on-board solar panels, wind turbines, and two hydro generators. This particular vessel will patrol some of the world’s most polluted waterways starting in 2024 as part of the The SeaCleaners core mission.

Featuring a “science sphere” on the aft deck that is very reminiscent to certain spherical landmarks now in downtown Seattle (wink, wink), the Earth300 gigayacht concept announced by Iddes Yachts (iddesyachts.com) in April is designed to be 100% emission free, powered by nuclear tech known as molten salt reactors (MSRs). The vessel is equipped with 22 scientific laboratories with the capacity to house 160 scientists, plus a cantilevered observation deck, and that aforementioned sphere? It’s a whopping 13 stories tall. The concept has the support of such international partners as IBM, RINA, Triton Submarines, and EYOS Expeditions, with a projected launch date sometime in 2025.

IMAGE COPYRIGHT SYNTHES3D FOR THE SEACLEANERS