Seafair, Part 2: I’m on a Boat!

And no, I don’t got my flippy-floppies.

But having spent the early years of my life living only two blocks from the “pits” of the annual Seafair unlimited hydroplane races, I still get a kick out of photographing these big, fast, if a bit balky, flying boats. Having grown up in awe of the sport, it’s pretty cool to now have an all-access pass to the event as a photographer for the annual Seafair races on Lake Washington.

If you’re reading this and you’re not from Seattle, the following will all seem very strange. I don’t blame you. It’s a weird sport. The hydroplanes literally fly on top of the water, skimming along with only three points of the boat in touch with the water — the front two sponsons and the back of the boat.

But it’s a pretty sport because the boats go fast, and when they do they leave huge sprays of water (called “roostertails”) in their wake.

Back when I was a kid, the boats were powered by loud piston engines rescued from old World War II fighters, like the P-51 Mustang. The noise was so loud you could hear it from a couple miles away. Today’s boats are powered by quieter turbine engines. The cool sound is gone, but the newer engines are much more reliable, and the racing is better.

As well as boat races, the biggest air show of the year takes place over the race course. The Navy’s Blue Angels are an annual guest, thrilling crowds not only on race day, but for the three days prior as the practice their routine over the lake.

Even after seeing their routine year after year, it’s still an amazing show.

My job on Seafair Sunday is to create images that make the event look cool and fun. I shoot from the shore, the air (as seen in the aerial at the top of this post) and I spend the last hour or two of the afternoon shooting from a boat (thanks, Dave and Lorrie!). This is so I can capture the crowds on the shore, the racing and also the unique crowds of people on boats that line the race course along what’s known as the “logboom”.

Boats pay to tie up the log boom that circles the course, and a weekend-long party takes place, interrupted only by the Blue Angels and the occasional hydro race. I doubt many of the revelers know the outcome of the races.

But there is a winner, and this year the race was won by veteran driver Dave Villwock, who was showered with the bubbly stuff on the stage after he accepted  the trophy.

At Seafair there are good pictures to be had around every corner, and the chance to shoot fast boats, faster jets and crazy people on a summer day is always a a great time for me.