Anacortes 2008: A Perfect Union!
Our first-ever Trawler Fest in Anacortes was a huge hit! Cap Sante Boat Haven proved to be the ideal setting for Trawler Fest, and the nearby Commercial Avenue, the main street of the town, made it easy for everyone in attendance to get to know the town, the cool stores, and the relaxing cafes and pubs—all within walking distance of the main event.
There were many highlights of the show—as one attendee put it, “it was like walking into trawler heaven.”
On Thursday evening we presented naval architect, Arthur DeFever, with a slide-show presentation filled with pictures and quotes that captured his more than seven decades of yacht design as well as a special Lifetime Achievement Award.
We also celebrated the debut of several boats in the show as well as the history and incredible designs of others. Brand-new boats that you’ve seen in PMM included the Northwest 45, the Passagemaker 60 by Queenship, the Alaskan 62, and the Northern Marine 64. Peppered among these new boats were the popular Ranger Tugs, the local Nordicand American Tugs, a brilliantly restored Alaska Fisheries Patrol boat called Teal, and an ongoing blend of wooden,steel, fiberglass, large, and small trawlers.
The auction, which benefits the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society, was the center ofthe action Friday night and this year’s Pacific Northwest crowd raised $8,320 for our charity organization. With items from whale-watching tickets to homemade wine to Camp David jackets and the ultimate—John Deere bike, there was plenty to place a bid on and we thank all who made a purchase withproceeds going to the NMCRS.
A touching moment of the Anacortes event was during the Saturday evening awards ceremony. Judy and Ken Johnston were the very deserving recipients of the newest boat-owner award. They had purchased a Krogen 42 a week before the event to cruise to Alaska in celebration ofthe completion of Judy’s chemo and radiation in her battle against breastcancer. Judy told this story to our crowd with such emotion and excitement and with such appreciation and love for her husband, that no one in the room had a dry eye. And her story was a reminder to each and every person how lucky we are to be here and to be enjoying the trawler lifestyle together.
There were so many ways that our first Trawler Fest in Anacortes was a success that we cannot wait to return next year. We will post photos, testimonials, and the T2P video of Anacortes on our website, trawlerfest.com,so you can relive the moments of a fantastic event. Please check back soon!