Sailing

Growing up in Gig Harbor and living on the east side with waterfront property our family had several sailboats of different sizes.  Also, my dad favorite activity was sailing; so we didn't have a chance.

My dad grew up in Tacoma; however, they spent time in Gig Harbor on weekends, and in the summer. So the property I grew up on had been owned by my grandfather Nightingale, and had the place was a cabin until I was a few months old. My dad purchased the place from my grandfather about the same time.

My dad and his brother became interested in sailing when he around thirteen years old.  They built their first boat when my dad was sixteen.  My uncle was more into building boats, and my dad enjoyed sailing more.  So you can see how our family was involved in sailing.  Often when my uncle and his family visited him and my dad would talk about sailing.  The families thought that it was funny because they would start talking where they left off the last time even if it was six months earlier.

The boat that my dad sailed in races during the 1960s was the Thistle.  Gig Harbor had a fleet of thistles; I don’t remember exactly how many there were but I would say around twelve thistles.  So the races were just among thistles; I remember them being very competitive.  Many times the racers along with their wives and sometimes kids would come over for a dinner gathering.  I thought they were great; it felt a lot like family.  My sister went to University of Oregon in the middle 1960s, so several times we went down to visit her, at the same time he would race the thistle.

Picture of Thistle I found on line

In the 1970s and 1980s my dad raced larger boats including the Nightingale 29 my uncle designed built. Here is a copy of the boat as well.

My dad was a member of the Gig Harbor Yacht Club; because of his contribution to sailing in Gig Harbor they name the sailor of year after him.  Our family find  it to be quite an honor.

Gig Harbor is called Washington’s Maritime Village; so sailboats along with fishing and motorboats have a long history in Gig Harbor.  When you walk the waterfront of Gig harbor you will see several marinas. In fact, you will see lots of boats of all kinds in Gig Harbor.

So I recommend anyone coming for a visit to go out in a boat. There are boats you can rent, along with taking a tour if you have never been out on a boat. You can visit www.gigharborguide.com.