Last Seafair I watched was 1971. Lived on 41st one house north of Andover. From the picture windows in the dining room and living room, and from my bedroom window, I could see the pits/barge/start-finish line and turns 2,3, and 4. I don't remember there even being a second final, but the first is burned into my brain. Pride of Pay-n-Pak, the first successful pickle fork boat, walked away out of turn 4 and crossed the finish line as Bud, Atlas Van Lines, and Notre Dame were still mid turn. Those three boats were RACING, nearly side by side and balls to the walls runnin'. As always, by the final it was getting really choppy. Bud was the first boat to start bouncing the sponsons and running inside. Notre Dame wasn't rocking any worse but her nose dipped just a little bit and she was gone and Sterett was bouncing across the water like skipping a stone. I was positive he was dead but wound up with only a broken nose. My stepfather caught the tail going under water on super 8, took maybe 3 seconds to sink so only a few frames, but for some reason, he always refused to do anything with it. Mom passed and he was gone a few months later and we had all the film we could find transferred to VHS, but never saw it again. It was all 30 years old at that time and some of it wasn't in real good shape, but I don't know for certain we still even had that particular roll as he didn't do a lot of labeling.
A section of the log boom is blocked off until after the Blue Angels do their program. Then at least a hundred more small boats are allowed to move up to the front row. People pay a lot of money to tie up to the log boom. Few leave after the Blues or before the final heat - if it ends on time. Many left, though, yesterday before the 7pm re-run of the final that we see here.
mchristr Well. Beings I've been watching Hydros for 50+ years. (and a boat builder). Just keep watching. 200mph on a Track. Minus the Rooster Tail. Is quite a different adventure...
What's not to comprehend? This is the most beautiful form of motorsport. 200 mph boats, with a huge, white roostertail of water 100 feet behind, on an ever-changing course. Definitely more exciting than watching a pack of taxi cabs running on a flat oval.
