Bellingham Sail & Power Squadron teaches this course in partnership with Bellingham Technical College. Learn the fundamentals of safe boat handling and operation, and basic piloting, in one comprehensive course. This newly revised course includes lessons on seamanship, boat handling, boat types, rules of the road, navigation aids, regulations, adverse conditions, marine VHF radio, knots, trailering, and introductory piloting. Emphasis added for boating in Pacifc Northwest waters. Charting is taught using NOAA Chart 18421 (the Strait of Juan de Fuca to Strait of Georgia). The instructors also cover Washington State rules and regulations. Registration for America's Boating Course is available by calling BTC Registration at (360) 752-8350 and asking for MARIN 110, Boating Safety and Piloting. Questions? Contact Donna Hunter, Public Boating Chair, at (360) 332-5526. The $95 fee provides students with a full-color 244-page boating safety course manual, America's Boating Course, student CD, a CD featuring Rose Point Navigation Coastal Explorer software, and a chart plotting tool.

Join us for our monthly sea shanty song circle and sing-along the first Thursday of each month from 6:00-8:00 p.m. This is a free, family-friendly event where "singin' is encouraged, but knot required." Food and beverage available. All welcome! We meet at the Northwest Maritime Center Cafe, located at 431 Water Street in Port Townsend, WA. Each month features a song leader that hails from somewhere around the PNW, so check our blog each month for updates.

This class will teach you how to read those boat charts you keep stowed aboard 'just in case' your electronic navigation system goes out. Participants will learn about chart reading, tides & currents, position fixing and get to practice plotting a course. Taught by Captain Andy Bereson. Minimum 4.

Covers how different propulsion and steering systems behave when maneuvering at low speeds in close quarters, then applies it to docking. The idea is to work with the boat’s natural behavior instead of doing things the hard (potentially embarrassing) way. Covers spring lines and other tricks for getting job done in wind or current. Applies to power or sail boats. Presented by Bill Ray, award-winning instructor for the Seattle Sail & Power Squadron. No charge. No reservations required. Plenty of parking.

Spending the weekend with friends of www.IBoatNW.com. Saturday Pot Luck Sunday Cocktails on Miranda II followed by dinner at Anthony\'s for the annual crab feed.

Live Music, Vendor Booths, beer garden featuring Port Townsend Brewery on tap

Partying at Johnny's on Sunday night is like starting next weekend early. Come by boat or by car and listen to all your favorite Jimmy Buffett tunes. No cover charge but an extremely accomodating tip bucket.

Songs of the sea are easy to learn and fun to sing. All ages welcome. That fun-loving and lively trio, The Whateverly Brothers, will be on board as songleaders to keep the music rolling. Anyone can lead a song or just join in the chorus. Admission free, donations accepted.

The 18th Annual Leukemia Cup Regatta takes place on June 9, 2012 at Elliott Bay Marina. Sailors from around the Pacific Northwest will come together to raise money for the fight against blood cancers and enjoy a fun-spirited day on the water. Racers and cruisers alike are invited to sail in the Regatta, and everyone is welcome to the post-event Heineken Luau! Join us for food, drinks an auction and a celebration following the race – the party will take place at Elliott Bay Marina as well. Learn more at www.leukemiacup.org/wa

FREE REGISTRATION! Prizes for the top contestants per age groups Prizes for the first 30 registrants Discounted Rowboat Rentals: $20 for duration of the Derby No Discover Pass Required—FREE DAY (Washington State Parks) No Fishing License Required—FREE FISHING DAY (Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife)

Seven Years on a 31-foot Boat Following their dreams on a tight budget, Wendy Hinman and Garth Wilcox cruised the Pacific on a 31-foot boat for seven years. Wendy Hinman will share stories and photos from their 34,000-mile Pacific odyssey. The two left in 2000 on a voyage that took them to 19 countries, including Mexico and "Milk Run" stops in the South Pacific, plus the Western Pacific and Asia. They entrusted their lives to a boat that fit their budget better than Garth's large frame. On their journey, Wendy and Garth discovered that teamwork and a sense of humor were more important than many so-called "necessities" as they faced many "character-building" opportunities. They made a long-anticipated visit to the island where Garth was shipwrecked as a teenager, only to find it had become a penal colony. An electronic catastrophe in the Solomon Islands left them without key navigation equipment. To haul and repair their boat on a remote atoll several thousand miles away, they had to devise a means for getting it out of the water. In Asia, they dodged typhoons and ships that threatened to turn their home into kindling. Finally they endured a grueling 49-day passage across the cold North Pacific from Japan to a post 9/11 America they hardly recognized. Wendy will autograph copies of her new book, Tightwads on the Loose: A Seven Year Pacific Odyssey, that evening.

BBQ from noon to 5pm Live Music Vendor Booths Outside Activities

Songs of the sea are easy to learn and fun to sing. All ages welcome. Broadside & the Handsome Cabin Boys will be on board as songleaders to keep the music rolling, with opportunity for anyone to lead a song or just join in the chorus. Two female chantey singers and their male counterparts sing up a storm. Admission free, donations accepted. The photo of Broadside here is by Duncan Livingston.

** UPDATE 4/24 ** NEW HEADLINERS TBA, soon! Bare with us while we're updating and editing a few items. In the meantime, you'll find ALL UMF LINKS (CONTACTS, VIDEO & EVENT INFO) in our UMF EVENT PAGE at www.NWBoatinfo.com OR www.nwboatinfo.com/Events-UMF.html

Did you hear UMF 2011 WAS CAPTURED ON SATELLITE? To view a portion of the day, ZOOM IN & OUT, at GOOGLE EARTHS SATELLITE MAP, HERE - www.panoramio.com/map/#lt=47.319858&ln=-122.666473&z=4&k=2&a=1&tab=1&pl=all

Held on the waters of South Puget Sound, the Pacific NWs largest Watercraft Concert & Rendezvous will bring upwards to 10,000 boaters to rendezvous near the greater region of Gig Harbor WA (Zip 98335).

UNDERWATER MUSIC FESTIVAL - The six hour concert arrives to all horns, via tug & barge, with musicians and equipment ready to go. A fabulous watercraft concert, bringing five wonderful multi-genre bands to perform for thousands of boaters - LIVE MUSIC echoing across the waters of South Puget Sound.

As early as Thursday and Friday, many boaters will start to arrive in the greater region of Gig Harbor, Tacoma, and South Puget Sound. By Friday, more will begin to congregate near the concert location; in the regions of Gig Harbor, Fox Island & Carr Inlet. On Saturday, all watercraft rendezvous for the concert - just off shore Rosedale WA; near Raft & Cutts Islands (ZIP 98335).

UMF SPONSORS, VOLUNTEERS & CHARITY: Though the UMF is composed of all Volunteers, the event is NOT exactly free - Each year the festival must cover Basic Costs: NEW County Permits, Fees, Bond, the Tug & Barge, Security, and Equip. We, also, support a Charity each year - which UMF attendees help to support!

To continue this fabulous annual event, Participants & Sponsors are asked to Sponsor or Donate, or support the UMF by holding a Fundraiser. Feel free to share the UMF Event info with friends, and others: business, organizations, associations, marinas & clubs, etc - UMF wishes to thank the U.S COAST GUARD, PIERCE COUNTY TROOPERS, TITUS WILL FORD & TOYOTA, the many wonderful Sponsors of UMF 2011, and the upcoming UMF 2012!

** FOR SPONSOR, VOLUNTEER & FUNDRAISING OPPORTUNITIES, CONTACT: UMF@setlistmusic.com via www.setlistmusic.com/underwater-music-festival/ OR Underwatermusicfestival@hotmail.com - ADDITIONAL LINKS & CONTACT INFO ARE AVAILBLE AT: www.nwboatinfo.com/Events-UMF.html
Sponsors & Musicians will soon be added to partner websites/pages. For future UPDATES, join the festival on FACEBOOK, by clicking LIKE. Remember to share Three Sheets NW UMF Event page, or any of the UMF Event Links, with friends...

FLY-IN - Some are saying the UMF 2012 would make a great Friday-Saturday Fly-In (Tacoma Narrows Airport - Gig Harbor, WA).

** WATERCRAFT AVAILABILITY, MOORAGE & LODGINGS - MANY BOATS & FLOATILLAS LINGER THE NIGHTS BEFORE AND AFTER; lingering throughout the greater Gig Harbor & Tacoma regions. Remember to book any neccessary accomodations ahead. Non-Boat Owners might try contacting regional marinas & boat dealers, to aid with their search for any watercraft rentals or charters. Find more info, and contacts, at www.NWBoatinfo.com. REMEMBER, TUG, BARGE and MUSICIANS ARRIVE AND DEPART TO ALL HORNS!

*** JOIN SOUTH PUGET SOUND FOR A FABULOUS DAY OF MUSIC & BOATING! *** >

Annual meeting of Island Packet Yacht owners from Oregon, Washington, British Columbia and from anywhere else that would like to join in. Island Packet want-to-be owners are also invited to come see these great boats.

Annual meeting of Island Packet Yacht owners from Oregon, Washington, British Columbia and from anywhere else that would like to join in. Island Packet want-to-be owners are also invited to come see these great boats.

PORTLAND PIRATE FESTIVAL is an annual family-oriented event that promotes fun and education through Historical Re-enactment, Music, Dance, and interactive Theater; while providing increased cultural awareness and philanthropic involvement to charitable organizations in the community. Admission includes * All festival music and entertainment (Including 2 stages, 3 performance areas, 10 Musical acts, 10 entertainment acts, and wandering musicians and entertainers of every variety!) * Cannon Shows * Sword fight shows * Inflatable Rides* Free Balloons and Tattoos for kids * Historical enactments * Games and activities for the whole family. For more information on this great annual event go to: http://portlandpiratefestival.com

Fourth Annual Ranger Tugs Owners Rendezvous. The factory team will be there with new vessels open to the public. All Ranger Tug owners are invited to attend. Advance sign up required. Go to www.tugnuts.com for further information.

The Seattle Boats Afloat Show is back for our 34th annual show on South Lake Union. From cabin cruisers to sailboats, trawlers to mega yachts, South Lake Union is the best place to find the boat of your dreams. This show will have it all. Whether you're an experienced sailor or just getting your feet wet, climb aboard, kick some anchors and check out all the variety that the Lake Union Show has to offer. www.boatsafloatshow.com

The 24th Annual Fishermen’s Fall Festival is a FREE event celebrating our local fishing fleet. All proceeds directly benefit the Seattle Fishermen’s Memorial and their efforts to honor the local fishing community and their families. The Fishermen’s Fall Festival will feature industry related exhibits and competitions, fundraising salmon barbeque, children’s activities and musical entertainment. For more information, www.fishermensfallfestival.org.