Regge-inspired tunes set the pulse at Crescent Harbor Adventures on the Seaplane Base at the only Race Week party open to the public, Thursday evening.

The rockin’ dinner and dance party ­­— sponsored by Naval Air Station Whidbey Island in honor of Navy Appreciation Day— drew racers, locals and Navy personnel by the hundreds to the Marina Boathouse Deck turned dance floor.

The “Adult Day Camp,” a nickname given to Race Week by its participants, included a surprising number of youth.

Adam White, a youth visiting from Puyallup, tore up the dance floor with Becca Blackman of Oak Harbor and joined the Andy O. Reggae Band on tambourine.

Buddies from a yacht club in Seattle said a party was just what they needed after a day on the water. They brought six boats and 15 crew members, but only the Surt crew raced competitively. The club is composed entirely of singles.

“We’re the Seattle Singles Yacht Club,” Bill Rowlands said. “Unfortunately, a lot of us get divorced.”

“Or widowed like me,” Jerry Stephenson said. “This gives us an opportunity to be around people with similar likes. Plus, the partying is fun.”

Dancers of all ages twisted and twirled late into the evening and at one point joined together into a long, snaking conga line. However, those too shy to dance had just as much fun eating, drinking and watching the party-ers flanked by a stunning harbor view and brilliant pink sunset.

Although the week-long event started with a dud-day, Race Week stayed true to its reputation as one of the biggest and best buoy racing events on the West Coast.

Liz Burlingame contributed to this story.