A half-dozen women in their 70s sat on lawn chairs and watched from a slope above the Montlake Cut as yachts sailed by in the Opening Day boat parade. The vessels occasionally let out a hiss of steam and a whistle. Sometimes, the women gave a wave. Earlier, they’d cheered as University of Washington crew teams in the Windermere Cup races sped through the passage between Lake Union and Lake Washington.
“It’s fun to watch the yachts, but we came for the rowers,” said Margaret Laliberte.
They were also attending Opening Day — Saturday’s celebration marking the beginning of Seattle’s boating season — to reminisce.