World's Largest Tugboat Race Highlights Seattle Maritime Festival

On Saturday, May 11, more than 30 boats will participate in the 28th Annual U.S. Oil and Refining Seattle Tugboat Race Championships, the largest tugboat race in the world.

The race will run from noon to 3 p.m. as part of family fun day at the 2013 Vigor Seattle Maritime Festival, which will take place from Pier 66 and Bell Harbor Marina, 2225 Alaskan Way, Seattle. The race will start at the Grain Terminal, Pier 86, and end at Pier 66.

Teams from various maritime businesses will compete from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the WorkBoat World Invitational Boatbuilding Competition at Pier 66. The teams have just $50 to build a finished craft and win a race later in the day. Judging on the boats is at 3 p.m., with the race at 4 p.m.

Other Family Fun Day events include a survival suit contest in Elliott Bay, a competitive chowder cook-off, harbor tours and special activities for children.

Admission is free to all events. For a full schedule and more details, go here.

The Vigor Seattle Maritime Festival is operated by the Seattle Propeller Club and sponsored by Vigor Industrial, a maritime construction company with 2,000 employees in the Northwest, including Vigor Shipyards in Seattle