Hey, Pacific NW boaters

Don't forget the annual Special People's cruise on December 7.

Biggest gathering will be on Lakes Union and Washington, but there are usually
simultaeous events in Bremerton and other outlying communities.

You need a powerboat 26' or larger to host Special People, but owners of
smaller boats and sailors are always needed to help load/ offload SP (some of
them are not very agile or coordinated and have to be almost lifted aboard).
Smaller boat owners and sailors are welcome to ride along as "crew", and help
keep the SP occupied when underway.

We hope to have out boat back from engine transplant in time, but if not this
will be one of the few times in the last several years that we haven't
participated.
No other holiday event brings so much joy to the givers as well as the
receivers.

Short anecdote: A year or two ago we had a boatload of SP, and we motored
across the lake in the parade. The turn boat at the far end of the 520 bridge
is usually a big ketch with Santa Claus on deck, waving to the "kids" (some of
the kids are 60+). One of the guests looked at the Santa on the ketch and
announced, "That's not the real Santa!"

"It isn't?" I responded.

"No way," insisted the guest. "I was here last year, and the real Santa is
waiting for us with candy and tee shirts back at the dock!" :-)

(The real Santa is represented by a few hundred powerboaters and volunteer
crew. There is a reason everybody is smiling, even when exhausted at the end of
the day.)

To volunteer, call Seafair 206-728-2281

Sounds like a great program.
If you took a boatload of people out here you'd freeze them. It's 3C and
quite gusty.

Gould 0738 wrote in message
...
Hey, Pacific NW boaters

Don't forget the annual Special People's cruise on December 7.

Biggest gathering will be on Lakes Union and Washington, but there are
usually
simultaeous events in Bremerton and other outlying communities.

You need a powerboat 26' or larger to host Special People, but owners of
smaller boats and sailors are always needed to help load/ offload SP (some
of
them are not very agile or coordinated and have to be almost lifted
aboard).
Smaller boat owners and sailors are welcome to ride along as "crew", and
help
keep the SP occupied when underway.

We hope to have out boat back from engine transplant in time, but if not
this
will be one of the few times in the last several years that we haven't
participated.
No other holiday event brings so much joy to the givers as well as the
receivers.

Short anecdote: A year or two ago we had a boatload of SP, and we motored
across the lake in the parade. The turn boat at the far end of the 520
bridge
is usually a big ketch with Santa Claus on deck, waving to the "kids"
(some of
the kids are 60+). One of the guests looked at the Santa on the ketch and
announced, "That's not the real Santa!"

"It isn't?" I responded.

"No way," insisted the guest. "I was here last year, and the real Santa is
waiting for us with candy and tee shirts back at the dock!" :-)

(The real Santa is represented by a few hundred powerboaters and volunteer
crew. There is a reason everybody is smiling, even when exhausted at the
end of
the day.)

To volunteer, call Seafair 206-728-2281