Here and Now
Opening Day primer

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Traffic around the Montlake Cut is likely to be as slow and steady as the procession of boats on the water tomorrow for Opening Day of boating season.

If Opening Day festivities are not in your plans, you might do well to avoid the area.

• Montlake Boulevard Northeast will be closed to vehicles across the Montlake Bridge from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. because of boat races and the Opening Day boat parade.

• Highway 520's westbound exit to Montlake Boulevard Northeast, and the eastbound exit to Montlake for traffic headed north, also will be closed. However, motorists can still take that eastbound exit to head south on Montlake Boulevard Northeast.

• Starting at 10 a.m., Montlake Boulevard Northeast will be closed to all traffic north of the Montlake Bridge at Northeast Pacific Street, and south of the Montlake Bridge at East Hamlin Street. But spectators will be allowed onto the bridge to watch the boat races until noon, when the bridge draw span will be opened for the boat parade.

• The race course will travel west through the Montlake Cut; the flotilla will travel east through the Cut.

• After the parade, motorists should expect the bridge to be opened frequently, delaying traffic up to 15 minutes per opening as boats pass back through the canal. Motorists also should expect the University Bridge and Fremont Bridge to be busy with boat traffic.

Tomorrow's festivities include crew races and a judged parade of more than 200 boats.

• Spectators may watch from the banks or from their own boats moored in designated viewing areas at the east end of the Cut.

• Just before the parade, the annual Windermere Cup crew race will feature rowers from throughout the Northwest along with visiting crews from Italy, UCLA and the U.S. Naval Academy.

• More than 20 classic yachts are entered in the parade this year. There also will be music from the University of Washington Husky Band and Washington State University Cougar Band.

• Parking will be available in nearby University of Washington lots.

• Spectators might avoid parking problems by riding Metro Transit. But buses that normally travel across the Montlake Bridge will be rerouted between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. That affects Routes 43, 44, 48, 271 and Sound Transit 540. These buses will be serving almost all of their regular stops, but Metro will be providing shuttle service to areas along Northeast Pacific Street near University Hospital. Routes and schedule information is online at transit.metrokc.gov , or call 206-553-3000.

• Information on Opening Day is online at www.seattleyachtclub.org, and for the Windermere Cup at www.windermerecup.com.

Here's the Opening Day events schedule, with approximate times:

• 8 a.m. — Official parade boats will start to assemble in Portage Bay.

• 8:45 a.m. — U.S. Navy Band concert, Seattle Yacht Club lawn, 1807 E. Hamlin St.

• 9 a.m. — Commissioning ceremony, Seattle Yacht Club lawn.

• 9:40 a.m. — Parade course closed to all boat traffic; Montlake Bridge closes to vehicle traffic, but not pedestrian traffic.

• 10:20 a.m. — First crew race starts.

• 11:25 a.m. — Last crew race starts.

• 11:45 a.m. — All crew shells parade back through Montlake Cut.

• Noon — 2:30 p.m. — Yacht parade.

• 3 p.m. — Parade course reopens to regular boat traffic.

• 3:15 p.m. — Montlake Bridge reopens to vehicle and pedestrian traffic, but expect frequent draw-span openings.

• 6 p.m. — Trophy presentations, Seattle Yacht Club lawn.

• 6:30 p.m. — Closing ceremonies, striking of colors, Seattle Yacht Club.

Here & Now is compiled by Seattle Times staff reporter Charles E. Brown and news assistant Suesan Whitney Henderson. To submit an item, e-mail herenow@seattletimes.com or call 206-464-2226.

Copyright © 2004 The Seattle Times Company

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