On Saturday afternoon, May 2, the Orcas Island Yacht Club held its annual Opening Day Yacht Parade and Party, honoring Commodore Bob Brunius in Westsound.

Gaily decorated power and sail boats of all shapes and sizes lead by Rear Commodore Len Rickey in “Tenacious,” Fleet Captain Cruise John MacLeod in “Chesapeake” and Fleet Captain Sail Chris White in “Crazy Ivan” passed in review before Commodore Brunius on his sloop “Time Bandit.”

The parade was preceded by an opening day sailboat race from Westsound around Bell Island and back.

After the parade, prizes were awarded for the best decorated and costumed boat and crew. Three sailboats who won prizes in their class were “Whiffler,” owned by Peggy Wareham, “Phoenix” owned by James Kruse, and “Paradigm Shift,” owned by Rebecca Earnest and Vaughn Ploeger.

Five cruisers or power boats who won prizes in their class were “Chesapeake” owned by Reba and John MacLeod, “Pipedream,” owned by Emery Emmes, “Perigee,” owned by Lew and Katy Thomas, “My Gal Sal,” owned by George and Sally Larson, and “Frog,” owned by Jim and Robin Roser.

This year’s opening day party and luncheon with the theme of Margaritaville Jamaica and Jimmy Buffet was held at the yacht club shelter overlooking Westsound. The hosts of the event were Bruce and Victoria Parker.

The next big Orcas Island Yacht Club event will be in Victoria, British Columbia on May 16 and 17 at Victoria Days, where the club has been invited to participate in a grand yacht parade in the inner harbor celebrating the birthday of Queen Victoria. The Orcas Island Yacht Club will be the only participating yacht club from the United States.

For more information about the yacht club, call Joan Crosby, Membership Secretary, at 376-2992.