SEAFAIR: Here’s what you’ll see off West Seattle in Tuesday’s Parade of Ships

| Seen at sea | West Seattle news

(2022 Seafair Parade of Ships photo by Long Bach Nguyen)

This is Seafair‘s big week, and some of it will be visible from West Seattle. On Wednesday, expect Blue Angels fly-bys before the U.S. Navy demonstration team arrives at Boeing Field around 1:30 pm, but first, there’s the Seafair Fleet arrival tomorrow (Tuesday, August 1st), passing West Seattle’s Elliott Bay shores on their way to “parade” past the downtown waterfront. Today, Seafair has announced which ships are participating:

US Navy: USS Barry (DDG 52), a guided-missile destroyer homeported in Everett

U.S. Coast Guard: USCGC Robert Ward (WPC-1130), a cutter based in Los Angeles, and USCGC Henry Blake (WLM-563), a buoy tender

Royal Canadian Navy: HMCS Edmonton (703), HMCS Yellowknife (706), HMCS Nanaimo (MM 702)

The ships are due along the downtown waterfront at 1 pm so their West Seattle pass should be in the noon hour; you can usually get a good view anywhere from the Alki promenade to Seacrest Pier. Later this week they’ll be open for tours at three downtown locations – on Pier 46, Terminal 66, and Pier 68; the schedules are on the Seafair website.

Lucy July 31, 2023 (3:23 pm)

I remember the old days of Seafair when Fleet Week was AWESOME. We had destroyers and flattops and thousands of Navy boys partying in Pioneer Square. It was a HOOT!

jim July 31, 2023 (5:04 pm)

and even a submarine once in a while. One Navy ship come on Navy.

Hammer in Hand July 31, 2023 (5:23 pm)

Remember when the torchlight parade was at night and not driven big dollars and by KIRO not want to give up prime time TV spots to air the parade they will hide behind crime and thugs being the reason And when the three networks would have competitions to see who could have the best coverage. And when you could host a sailor for the weekThat was old time Seafair at its best

Ex-Westwood Resident July 31, 2023 (5:27 pm)

No “Flattops” anymore, at least until a pier has been certified to support a nuclear-powered ship. No more conventional powered carriers or submarines in the Navy.

Last pier that was, iirc, was terminal 18 or 5.

Eddie August 1, 2023 (6:35 am)

What specifically is involved in “certifying a pier to support nuclear-powered ships?”

Autrey August 1, 2023 (6:03 am)

I was in the parade many years ago, it was one of the western floats. I remember KMPS station and music was playing and I was in my western wear including boots and hat. The pirates would shoot candy from their cannons. Then we went to Skippers for dinner. I used to love were I grew up, now it looks like NewYork with a bar on every corner. Where did all the restaurants go??? I miss the old West Seattle, where the Jefferson elementary used to be. It used to be a quite tiny town, were we road are bikes everywhere and had fun doing it, we played outside till we were either called (yelled for) to come in or the sun was going down, and if you didn’t come in the first time you were called for you got one more yell, then you were in trouble and couldn’t leave your yard for a day, but still play in the back yard. I miss the old times.

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