Bright sails will dot Penn Cove and Saratoga Passage over the next seven days as the Oak Harbor Yacht Club and Oak Harbor Marina host the 33rd Annual Whidbey Island Race Week July 18-24.
The three-decade old Whidbey tradition will include several new twists this summer.
Charley and Schelleen Rathkopf are first-time owners, although they have been involved in the event since 1997.
“We have a love for the sport of sailboat racing,” Schelleen Rathkopf said in regard to taking over ownership.
“We have the race management experience to offer one of the best races in the country.”
Charley Rathkopf will continue to serve as the Primary Race Officer, a duty he performed for the past 11 years.
The Rathkopfs’ primary goal over the next five years is to develop the “next generation of sailors,” Schelleen Rathkopf said.
In addition, they would like to “make the week more family friendly.”
To help achieve this, Race Week will include a youth sailing circle and Kids Camp.
The youth sailing circle is Saturday and Sunday, July 18 and 19. Racing is open to all youth with dinghies and will include several classification of boats (CFJ, non-spinnaker; Laser, standard and radial; and Optimist, including Green fleet).
Whidbey Island Race Week officials are working with the Northwest District of the Interscholastic Sailing Association to add the 2016 youth races to NWISA’s calendar. NWISA is the organizing body for high school racing in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Alaska and British Columbia.
Kids Camp will include sailing instruction, field trips and crafts.
“Our vision is to build WIRW Kids Camp into a youth sailing program that introduces the experience of sailboat racing to an entirely new generation of sailors,” Schelleen Rathkopf said.
Another addition to this year’s event are three spectator cruises aboard the historic schooner SUVA, captained by Mark Saia.
SUVA cruises are planned for Wednesday through Friday, July 22-24. Reservations are required and can be made at schelleen@whidbeyislandraceweek.com or by calling 206-384-5254.
Big boat racing, Whidbey Island Race Week’s main event, takes place noon until 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
