Opening Day Practice - Sponsored by TYEE - Open to all clubs

Save the Dates Apr 19 & Apr 26  - Opening Day Parade Practice

The TYEE Yacht Club is sponsoring two practice parades on April 19 and April 26. All clubs are invited to join on either or both days. The organizers are Kat & Pete Pettersen. Kat, the TYC Fleet Captain, offers the option for clubs to participate on one or both days.

Form up at 10am in front of TYC on Channel 68. We'll go through the review area two abreast, transitioning to single file as we cross to the Washington shore. We'll follow the parade route downriver: through the bridge, along the Vancouver waterfront, crossing to the Oregon shore above the RR bridge, and then upriver.

We'll stop near Hayden Bay for a quick debrief and suggestions, aiming to finish by noon. The more boats, the better and all boats are welcome. We could use both experienced and new paraders. New participants will get familiar with the route and parading in general as we'll go over a few parading tips: staying on the route, using your chart plotter, speed, and spacing.

If you have any questions, please reach out to me: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Kat Pettersen                         

TYC Fleet Captain

Christmas Ships Columbia Fleet Leader

Current happenings

Route subcommittee: Route approval went as expected. We have a great route chosen for this first year of including the Vancouver Waterfront.  Route Map <click to open. The route map linked is the strawman that we used to come to agreement and it gives the general idea. We will have a final and pretier map in the next week. 

Theme and Community outreach subcommittee efforts are under way. Theme has been decided "Celebrate Opening Day"

Outreach to members to identify their Fleet Captains. Calling all member clubs! Calling all member clubs! 

Next up

January: Confirm judges and find 1 new volunteer. Noting that we need the Route finalization subcommittee to identify if there will be a review area.

February: Final Route announcement.

February: Theme annoucement. This year we will have our own theme rather than follow the Rose Festival theme.

February/March: Determine the Opening Day Agenda.

Recent happenings

Route, Theme and Community Outreach committees

Two subcommittes have been formed, a Route Finalization commmittee, chaired by Tony Bacon, and a Theme and Community outreach committee chaired by Bev Hamlik. The subcommittee chairs will meet twice a month to track progress. 

Coastgaurd responds to permit application

We received notification from the USCG that a parade permit is not required based upon our application indicating there is no risk to life or property. Nobody expected this result because in previous years permits were issued. USCG Letter Regarding 2025 Parade Permit Application

Review of Practice Run For 2025 Opening Day Parade

Vancouver Waterfront, Saturday October 19th, 10am.

Parade practice went very well and we are gratefull for the participation we had.

Participants were called upon to provide their comments with regards to the practice run. The purpose for this is to gain insights from the practice that will help us to plan for the official parade. Click below to view the comments.

 Consolidated Comments from Practice Parade Participants