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Whidbey Xtra! WEDNESDAY, JULY 15, 2015 | Vol. 1, No. 11 | WWW.WHIDBEYNEWSTIMES.COM | FREE
Race Week looking to build new generation of sailors By JIM WALLER Staff Reporter
Race. Party. Play. That’s how sponsors of Whidbey Island Race Week describe the sailing event, and the 33rd annual version should live up to its billing. Race Week 2015, hosted by the Oak Harbor Yacht Club and Oak Harbor Marina, is slated to run Saturday, July 18, through Friday, July 24. In addition to sailboat races, Race Week offers nightly events, including live bands and movies. In an effort to make Whidbey Island Race Week more family friendly, organizers also offer activities for youngsters. New this year is a youth sailing circle July 18 and 19. Racing is open to all youth with dinghies and will include several classification of boats (CFJ, non-spinnaker; Laser, standard and radial; and Optimist, including Green fleet). Whidbey Island Race Week officials are working with the Northwest District of the Interscholastic Sailing Association to add the 2016 youth races to NWISA’s calendar. NWISA is the organizing body for high school racing in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Alaska and British Columbia. The Whidbey Island Race Week Kids Camp for youngsters 5-12 runs
2014 File photo
Whidbey Island Race Week will run Saturday, July 18 through Friday, July 24. A Kids Camp will run July 20-24 and feature sailing instructions, field trips, crafts and other activities. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. July 20-24. The camp includes sailing instructions, field trips, crafts and other activities. “Our vision is to build WIRW Kids Camp into a youth sailing program that introduces the experi-
ence of sailboat racing to an entirely new generation of sailors,” said Schelleen Rathkopf, WIRC owner. For those who would like a close-up view of the sailing action, three spectator cruises aboard
XTRA SPECIAL!
the historic schooner SUVA, captained by Mark Saia, are planned for Wednesday through Friday, July 22-24. Reservations are required and can be made at schellen@whidbeyislandraceweek.com or by call-
Present this coupon for
ONE ADDITIONAL MONTH FREE on a paid one-year subscription
ing 206-384-5254. Big boat racing, Whidbey Island Race Week’s main event, takes place on Penn Cove or Saratoga Passage noon until 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.