Anchors away

Jam-packed Harbor Days connects boat enthusiasts to celebrate maritime history

By Molly Gilmore | For The Olympian • Published August 28, 2008

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For many in South Sound, Harbor Days is the place to be for Labor Day weekend because it offers a chance to see old tugboats, shop, eat, have fun and enjoy the water and, usually, sunshine.

But for the tugboat owners who gather in Olympia each year for the three-day festival and Sunday races, it's the event of the year.

"I think everyone you talk to would say this is a marvelous thing," said Robin Paterson of Gig Harbor, president of the International Retired Tugboat Association. He and his wife, Kae Paterson, have attended and raced in every Harbor Days, the past 22 on their small Foss tug, Joe.

While high fuel prices have affected vacation plans for many Americans, tugboat owners Paterson has talked to aren't letting increased costs stop them.

"A couple of people were worried about that a while ago, and then they said, 'Oh, phooey! That's a really neat thing; that's a special thing; let's do it. What are we going to do if we don't go? We're going to sit up here and mope and have a couple of beers and wish we'd gone, so let's go.' "

Twenty-four boats are registered this year, said Nancy "Siggy" Sigafoos, who organizes the event. (Last year, 16 or 17 tugs were in attendance.) Paterson said he's heard from a few more that haven't registered but are planning to attend.

Some boats that will be missing this year are those that normally compete in the Swantown Regatta. Sigafoos said the Olympia Area Rowing Association, which organizes the regatta, isn't doing it this year.

There still is plenty to see and do, such as visiting the tugs, checking out tall ships Lady Washington and Hawaiian Chieftain, riding on dragon boats and seeing model tugs.

While there are tugboat races in Seattle, Paterson said the Olympia races are special for several reasons. For one thing, Labor Day weekend means the boaters don't have to take a day off work to arrive before the races -- and the weather usually is good.

"In 35 years, it might have rained once during the race," he said. "It's come down in buckets the day before a couple of times, but I've almost always seen race day dry."

Of course, Harbor Days isn't just about the races or even the boats.

For festival-goers, there's free music and dance, children's activities and a lot of vendors selling food and crafts.

And for the tugboat owners, shopping is an attraction.

"You're in the middle of town," Paterson said. "Since I retired, we always go down a couple of days early, because we enjoy shopping in Olympia."