Free kids life jackets, sailing seminars, and solar powered boats at the Boats Afloat Show

SEATTLE, Sept. 16, 2006 –Over 1,700 boating enthusiasts turned-out at Chandler’s Cove on Friday to see the 350 boats on floating display, receive free life jackets for the kids and take in a host of free boating seminars at the Lake Union Boats Afloat Show – one of the largest floating shows on the West Coast. Three-day attendance at the five-day show is now over 3,900 boating enthusiasts.

Two happy recipients of free kids life jackets on Friday at the Boat’s Afloat Show. The life jacket giveaway, courtesy of Stearns and Fisheries Supply, continues on Saturday and Sunday.

Day-three on South Lake Union included free life jackets for the kids in attendance from Fisheries Supply and Stearns as a part of the Children’s Water Safety Education Program. The program is a partnership between the Northwest Yacht Brokers Association, in partnership with Children’s Hospital and Regional Medical Center, the U.S. Coast Guard and other marine groups.

Boating enthusiasts also took-in a range of free boat seminars on Friday ranging from Gunkholing in Puget Sound to Exploring the Coast of Viet Nam along with a presentation by Washington State University engineering students on the international Solar Splash Competition, where they designed, built and raced a solar-powered watercraft.

On the lighter side, controversy came to the Boat Show Dog Trials on Friday. Breezy, a six-year-old Sheltie and her human Diana Linthicum of Renton, romped to the best time of the day on the now nine-point Chandler’s Cove course. After climbing and descending boat steps, negotiating oar-gates on the canine slalom and sitting patiently in a dinghy for a five-second count, Breezy was penalized 10 seconds for failing to correctly pick-up and drag the rope float. The 10-second penalty dropped Breezy to second place, which still advanced her to Sunday’s finals. By rule, Vester, a five-year-old American Pit Bull Terrier and his human Manuela McGee of Port Orchard, were awarded top dog honors Friday with a 54-second run and no penalties. Vester was the second of four of McGee’s entries to advance to Sunday’s finals. The Boat Show Dog Trials course was revised on Friday to increase difficulty levels for the high-athleticism found on Thursday with the boat yard dogs.
 
The Boats Afloat Show, which runs through Sunday, features over 350 sail and power boats for all budgets and lifestyles ranging from 17-foot affordable, trailerable boats to eight luxury yachts over 80 feet in length. On the exotic side, a 130-foot mega-yacht and a 32-foot personal submarine will be on exhibit -- and for sale at the Boats Afloat Show.

Gates open daily at 11 a.m. (10 a.m. Saturday and Sunday). Tickets, $10 for adults and $5 for kids 12 and under, are available at www.BoatsAfloatShow.com or at the show. Free parking is available with an e-ticket purchase.

Getting There
Located at Chandler's Cove on South Lake Union, the Boats Afloat Show is just off the I-5 Mercer Street exit. Designated parking for $5 per day is located at 5th and Mercer about five blocks west of the show near the Seattle Center. A free shuttle runs between the Boat Show and the 5th and Mercer parking lot every 15 minutes during show hours.
 
Help Ease South Lake Union Traffic – Take the Lake Union Water Taxi
Seattle's Electric Boat Company will provide water taxi service on-call and from various locations around Lake Union throughout the show, beginning one hour prior to opening and concluding one hour following closing. Cost is $5 each-way. Call 206-223-7476 to arrange for pick-up.

About the Northwest Yacht Brokers Association
The Northwest Yacht Brokers Association www.nwyachtbrokers.com is a non-profit marine trade group founded in 1988 consisting of over 340 marine brokers, dealers and other industry professionals representing over 230 marine-related businesses in the Pacific Northwest. Subscribing to the strictest code of ethics, NYBA members are committed to bringing integrity and professionalism to the buying and selling process of new and previously owned pleasure craft. NYBA plays an active role in marine youth and education programs and is active in creating a greater interest in the welfare and safety of the boating public. Along with the Northwest Marine Trade Association, NYBA's January and September Boats Afloat Shows connect thousands of boating enthusiasts with marine professionals and the finest pleasure craft the Northwest has to offer.

 2006 LAKE UNION BOATS AFLOAT SHOW
 
What:
Seaing is Believing! 2006 Lake Union Boats Afloat Show
Mega-yachts up to 130 feet, trailerable boats for every budget, even a 32-foot submarine and everything you need to know to help you get on the water. All on the water at South Lake Union's Chandler's Cove.
 
When:
Wednesday, Sept. 13 – Sunday, Sept. Sept. 17
 
Times:
Weekdays – 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Weekends – 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
 
Tickets:
$10 Adults, $5 (Children 12 and under)
$18 Three Day Pass

Listen to the following Seattle-area radio stations to win free tickets:
AM: KIRO 710, KOMO 1000, KVI 570, KTTH 770, KPTK 1090
FM: KING 98.1, 570, KJR 95.7, KWJZ 98.9
 
Getting There
Located at Chandler's Cove on South Lake Union, the Boats Afloat Show is just off the I-5 Mercer Street exit. Designated parking for $5 per day is located at 5th and Mercer about five blocks west of the show near the Seattle Center. A free shuttle runs between the Boat Show and the 5th and Mercer parking lot every 15 minutes during show hours.
 
Help Ease South Lake Union Traffic – Take the Lake Union Water Taxi
Seattle's Electric Boat Company will provide water taxi service on-call and from various locations around Lake Union throughout the show, beginning one hour prior to opening and concluding one hour following closing. Cost is $5 each-way. Call 206-223-7476 to arrange for pick-up.