Opening Day parade of events

Some boaters have been splashing about all winter, but the boating season is not official until Saturday, when the Seattle Yacht Club kicks off one of the nation's finer boat parties, known hereabouts as "Opening Day."

It's a free event, with Windermere Cup crew races preceding a yacht parade through Montlake Cut. If you go by terrestrial means — bike, car or foot — you can watch from the shores of the Cut. If you go by water, volunteers for the Seattle Yacht Club (SYC) aim to have the log boom in place on the east end of Montlake Cut today. Moorage is free — first come, first served. Reserving multiple spaces is discouraged; courtesy is encouraged.

If you don't own a boat or can't find a way on to the boat of a friend, co-worker, neighbor or guy on a dock, you can rent kayaks from the Moss Bay Rowing, Kayaking and Sailing Center (206-682-2031, www.mossbay.net) and the Northwest Outdoor Center (206-281-9694, www.nwoc.com). Kirkland's Yarrow Bay Marina rents powerboats (425-822-6066, www.yarrowbaymarina.com).

Or you can parade past judges and spectators yourself on board the Spirit of Seattle as part of an Argosy Cruises and KWJZ Opening Day cruise from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Also on board will be a lunch buffet and the smooth-jazz stylings of Michael Powers and his band. Cost is $67 per adult, and you must be 21 or older (www.kwjz.com, 206-623-1445).

The schedule

Saturday

8 a.m.: Parade boats assemble in Portage Bay.

8:45 a.m.: U.S. Navy Band Concert on the lawn at Seattle Yacht Club, 1807 E. Hamlin St.

9 a.m.: Commissioning ceremony, SYC lawn.

9:40 a.m.: Parade course closed to all boat traffic; Montlake Bridge closed to street traffic.

9:50 a.m.: Official VIP boats parade to moorage.

10:05 a.m.: Dragon Boat exhibition race.

10:20 a.m.: First crew races begin, including visiting crew teams from the University of Michigan; the University of Central Florida; and Russia, which participated in the first Windermere Cup races 20 years ago.

11:30 a.m.: The last crew race begins.

11:45 a.m.: Crew competitors parade back through Montlake Cut.

Noon: Opening Day boat parade begins.

2:30 p.m. (approximate): Parade ends.

3 p.m. (approximate): Montlake Cut open to boat traffic.

3:15 p.m.: Montlake Bridge open to street traffic.

4:30 p.m.: Marine Corps Silent Drill Platoon, SYC lawn.

6 p.m.: Trophy presentations, SYC lawn.

6:30 p.m.: Opening Day closing ceremonies and lowering of colors.

Information in this article, originally published May 4, was corrected May 4. A Friday night fireworks display in honor of the 20th annual Windermere Cup Rowing Regatta has been canceled. Organizers canceled the display, planned for Union Bay on Lake Washington, because of concerns about bald eagles nesting in the area.