West Seattle, Washington
02 Sunday
Thanks to everyone who’s sent tips about and photos of that sailboat at Constellation Park. Comparing photos with this one we published last Monday, we’re confident in saying it’s the same boat. According to archived SFD radio, their Rescue Boat 5 checked it out twice this afternoon in the 2 pm vicinity, found no one aboard, consulted with the Coast Guard, and notified dispatch it’s a “derelict boat.” As for what happens next, we’ll be inquiring – disposition sometimes takes a while, as you might recall from this saga last year.
9:04 AM: Thanks to Stewart L. for the photos and tip! He reports that Don Armeni Boat Ramp was busy pre-dawn as chinook-salmon fishing opened.
9:23 AM: Thanks to Ryan Caple for this photo – the pier at Seacrest is bustling too:
12:32 PM: Parks says it’s opening Don Armeni at 3 am daily through the last day of this stretch of fishing (Monday, August 3).
Morning dawned early for the tribal canoe families who arrived at Alki Beach on Wednesday for an overnight stopover along this year’s Canoe Journey. Thanks to everyone who sent photos from the morning departure; the one above, and the two below, are from Greg C:
Next, Dave White spotted canoes passing the Fauntleroy ferry dock:
And Chris Frankovich saw canoes in the distance from The Arroyos, plus a passing tug:
Tonight’s host is the Puyallup Tribe; the final destination of this year’s journey is hosted by the Nisqually nation, which will host the canoe families through Wednesday.
Tribal canoe arriving at Suquamish yesterday.
By Anne Higuera
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
With nearly perfect conditions forecast on the water, more than 100 tribal canoes are expected to arrive at Alki Beach tomorrow afternoon. It’s the second-to-last stop on the 2026 Tribal Canoe Journey, an annual event that brings together Pacific Northwest tribal canoes to join in a paddle-powered journey to a hosting tribal nation, which this year is the Nisqually Tribe.
Most of the canoes will be coming to West Seattle from the Suquamish Tribe’s Port Madison Indian Reservation along Agate Passage in North Kitsap, a distance of about 13 miles. Some canoes started their journeys from the Washington coast or Northern Vancouver Island more than 2 weeks ago to get to central Puget Sound in time. (see map) If the forecast holds true, canoes will have a 7mph wind at their backs and temperatures in the high ‘60s under sunny skies. The tide will be coming in as they make their way across the sound, with expected arrival on the beach in front of the Alki Bathhouse sometime between 1-3 pm.
Canoes staged today on shore at Suquamish ahead of departure to Alki in the morning.
As we reported in a June preview, the Muckleshoot Tribe is hosting the West Seattle stop on the journey and will welcome canoes to shore and provide overnight camping, food and an opportunity to share culture at their tribal campus in Auburn. They will also provide security for the canoes, many of which will stay on the beach awaiting the next leg of the journey to the Puyallup Tribe of Indians landing in Tacoma on Thursday.
The Muckleshoot are providing event parking and shuttles for participants and the general public at a Port of Seattle parking lot (2949 SW Florida Street) next to Jack Block Park. Expect increased traffic in the area, but the Seattle Police Department tells WSB that they don’t have any officers assigned to the event.
The last time canoes landed at Alki as part of the tribal journey was in 2023, when the Muckleshoot welcomed 126 canoes. There is no departure ceremony per se, but canoes are expected to begin leaving Alki between 6 am-8 am on Thursday morning. The Nisqually Tribe will host the Medicine Creek Potlatch journey celebration, with 6 days of camping and protocol, starting with the ceremonial landing at Sequalitchew Creek in DuPont on Friday.
While dozens of canoe families are arriving at Alki, the Duwamish Tribe‘s canoe family will be leaving Don Armeni Boat Ramp at 2 pm Tuesday, heading to Blake Island to host a camp there; we’ll have a separate preview later tonight.
ORIGINAL 12:35 AM REPORT: If you’re south of Alki Point and noticing police activity on- and off-shore – they’re checking out a report that a sailboat might be “stuck on the rocks.” First arrivals were land units who didn’t see any signs of people on the boat; a Harbor Patrol boat is on the way for a close-up look.
8:53 AM: Thanks to everyone who’s sent photos this morning of what’s likely the boat in question, now beached at the south end of Constellation Park:
Thanks to Ted Bell for that one.
(WSB photo, 2025 Da Grind)
One of the unique sights of summer on Alki Beach is the outrigger-canoe contingent visiting for the Seattle Outrigger Canoe Club‘s annual “Da Grind” day of racing. But it’s not just for outriggers, the club wants small-craft paddlers to know, with this year’s Da Grind a month away:
Every year, Seattle Outrigger Canoe Club hosts a race (da Grind!) on Alki. You may have seen us, or seen it on WSB.
We are a club of outriggers, but our race also includes smaller craft. If you ride a v1, oc1, SUP, or surfski, we’d love to have you join us. It’s a great opportunity to test your pace on a four-mile course or just come for the fun and joy of being on the water with other small craft — right here in the neighborhood! Sign ups close on August 23. Visit our website for more information.
This is our 30=year anniversary as a nonprofit and to celebrate we are raising money for a new canoe to help bring more folks into the culture and community. We hope you will join us.
This year’s Da Grind – the 26th annual – is Saturday, August 29; register before August 23 and you’ll get a raffle ticket.
The image:
(USS Cincinnati, hoto by Gary Jones)
2:22 PM: The kickoff event for Seafair‘s two biggest weeks is happening now – the Parade of Ships, passing West Seattle on the way to the downtown waterfront, a few hours later than previous years. The participants weren’t announced in advance, unlike past years, and only one US Navy vessel is in view – USS Cincinnati, a littoral combat ship – with US Coast Guard (including USCGC Stratton, WSML 752) and Seattle Fire boats accompanying it.
(USCGC Stratton, photo by David Hutchinson)
Tomorrow and Thursday, ship tours will be offered at Pier 66 downtown, 10 am to 7 pm each day – here are the details on how that works.
(Photo by Gary Jones)
2:38 PM: The Navy confirms that USS Cincinnati is the ship on which they’ll offer tours. Here’s a Navy info-sheet about it. It’s homeported in San Diego; the Stratton is based in the Bay Area.
6:03 PM: As discussed in comments, a cruise ship was at Pier 66 this afternoon so the Fleet Week ships couldn’t dock immediately after the “parade.”
That photo sent by Ian shows USS Cincinnati is headed back in right now, and VesselFinder shows USCGC Stratton is also eastbound in Elliott Bay.
ADDED: From the afternoon “parade,” Wyatt sent theseviews from Pier 62:
This one includes the U.S. Coast Guard helicopter that demonstrated search-and-rescue procedures:
(Photo courtesy Alki Kayak Tours)
With a Heat Advisory in effect tomorrow and Wednesday, and more warm days ahead here in the heart of summer, you might be planning ways to keep cool. Alki Kayak Tours – sibling business of WSB sponsor Mountain to Sound Outfitters – is offering daily guided sea kayak tours leaving from its home base at Seacrest Pier in West Seattle 1660 Harbor SW). This page lists what’s available and how to book. Times and days vary, for options including the Elliott Bay Tour, Alki Point Lighthouse Tour, Sunset Tour, and the once-a-month Full Moon Tour, all two to three hours long.
(2025 Parade of Ships, photo by Gary Jones)
U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard ships will pass West Seattle shores around noon tomorrow (Tuesday, July 21) on their way to the Seafair Parade of Ships along the downtown waterfront. It marks the start to Seafair Fleet Week, which as usual will include ship tours. We’re still awaiting word on which ships will participate; in recent years, it’s shrunk from what previously was a contingent of at least three U.S. Navy ships as well as U.S. and Canadian Coast Guard vessels; Canada didn’t participate last year and isn’t mentioned in this year’s advance info either. When we get word of the participants, we’ll add it here; you can find basic tour info here for 10 am-7 pm Wednesday and Thursday at Pier 66 downtown.
(Washington Ecology Department photo)
Cleanup work continues tonight at Vigor Shipyard on Harbor Island, where the state Department of Ecology says up to 5,000 gallons of diesel spilled into Elliott Bay.
According to Ecology’s announcement, it happened this afternoon while the USS Sampson was having fuel removed, and a hose failed, sending thousands of gallons into the bay, in an area that had been “pre-boomed” before the removal. Ecology says it’s working with the Navy, Coast Guard, and “response contractors” on the cleanup.
We happened to photograph the Everett-based Sampson (DDG 102) as it was headed toward Vigor last Monday.
(WSB photo, July 6)
Vigor has a quarter-billion-dollar contract for repairs, maintenance, and modernization work on the Sampson.
Thanks to Susan for the photo. She called to tell us about a dog stuck on the rocks off Beach Drive near Harbor West (the condos on pilings), and a crowd gathering to figure out how to rescue it from the rising tide. We were away from the desk at the time but after returning a little while later, we heard the situation mentioned on police radio, with word the dog had been rescued, so we didn’t head that way. Then late tonight Susan sent photos, explaining that the dog apparently is known to swim to those rocks and back, but for some reason got stuck this time, “until a paddle boarder and kayaker paddled out to it to coax it off the rocks and back to the shore.”
(2025 photo by David Hutchinson)
By Macey Wurm
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
The Seattle Seafair Pirates will be sailing in, and storming Alki beach’s shore this Saturday, June 27th. Marking the commencement of Seattle’s Seafair festivities, the pirates at Alki will land ashore in search of the “key to the city”, playing into Seafair’s decades-long mythology.
The pirates expect to hit the beach between 1:00 and 1:30 p.m. on Saturday afternoon, amid cannon fire and sword-wielding, and led by Captain Kidd, a role filled this year by Chris Lange. Another notable pirate, Davy Jones (Kyle Walderhaug), will be accompanying him. The two pirates provided us with bios in anticipation of taking on these prominent roles this year.
Chris Lange (Captain Kidd):
I was born and raised in North Seattle, and now live on a hill in Broadview where I can keep an eye on the Salish Sea for enemy ships and other pirates. My mum was kidnapped at the Torchlight Parade when I was three years old, but no worries, that story ended well. Later I took my own boys to the parades to make sure they had the experience of seeing the pirates and hearing the cannons. Then I joined the Seattle Seafair Pirates and climbed aboard the Mighty Moby Duck way back in 2015, and I’ve served as the Liaison, Public Relations Officer, Secretary, and now the 77th Captain Kidd.
Kyle Walderhaug (Davy Jones):
Kyle was born and raised in Washington. He’s spent his entire life living around Seattle and never straying too far from the salt water. He roots for all the hometown teams, especially the Washington Huskies “WOOF!”
He’s grown up with Seafair and is always looking forward to kicking off summer with the Seafair Pirates Landing at Alki Beach. Now he’s honored to join the crew, share some mischief, and help keep this uniquely Northwest tradition alive for the next generation of Seafair fans.
Once the pirates and their crew have landed ashore, the festivities will have only just begun. They will be greeted on Alki by Seafair Royalty — Queen Alcyone (Bookda Gheisar) and King Neptune (Sidney Rice) who were each chosen based on their “philanthropic contributions to the Puget Sound region and ability to inspire the communities in which they live,” according to Seafair’s website. Also present will be Seafair Community Hero Abubakr Abdulkadir and Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson.
A ceremony knighting the pirates will be performed by Seafair Royalty, accompanied with a brief ceremony involving Mayor Wilson planned to take place at 2:00 p.m. The Pirates Landing is expected to take place near the Alki Beach Bathhouse (2701 Alki Ave SW).
According to this year’s Captain Kidd, the pirates will move down to Christo’s and El Chupacabra on Alki after the main festivities conclude to enjoy some food and beverages. That evening at 6:30, they will be appearing in the Greenwood Seafair Parade. It will be a long day of fun and laughs, says the captain.
(Speaking of parades, the Pirates will sail Moby Duck in the July 18 West Seattle Grand Parade, too.)
Thanks to Chris Frankovich for the photo from The Arroyos, where what is almost certainly the almost-annual algae bloom has shown up. We’ve reported on similar sights most years since the early 2010s; it’s usually a type of algae known as Noctiluca. Experts say it’s not usually toxic – this isn’t what is meant by “red tide” – but can be irritating; it’s a sign of environmental imbalance, including too many “nutrients” in the water. Here’s more info from state scientists. Here’s a sampling of our past reports – from 2011, 2023, and 2024.
As we’ve noted previously, Washington State Ferries is celebrating its 75th anniversary all month, and this afternoon is the Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth route’s chance for a party. A DJ from C89.5 Radio – the dance-music FM station – is spinning for a dance party on the deck of M/V Kittitas.
DJ Johnny Monsoon is in the sun, providing the beats. Passengers are providing the party spirit:
The C89.5 contingent even included general manager June Fox:
We’re told they’re on board for the 4:30 westward sailing, not just 3:30 as previously announced, so if you’re getting on a Triangle Route in the next hour or so, you might just get to join the party. Swag too!
Continuing our sea theme this afternoon thanks to Keri Watson for sending the video! That’s a sea lion “sailing” – often mistaken for an orca – off Lowman Beach. We’ve featured and explained this over the years – here, for example.
Ready to get out on the water? Alki Kayak Tours is about to start offering new weekly opportunities for you to do exactly that. Here’s the announcement from AKT proprietor Greg Whittaker:
We are excited to launch new community paddling events at Alki Kayak Tours for the 2026 season. We live surrounded by Puget Sound, the second-largest inland sea in the US. This is the birthplace of modern sea kayaking, where many talented designers have created kayaks for our waterways and given us the tools to safely explore. While all of our neighbors appreciate Puget Sound from the shoreline, we offer a new perspective of West Seattle from the water.
This year we are offering weekly community paddles and classes that will eventually culminate in a Blake Island Overnight Paddle! Yes, we will train you to get you there, and offer classes to help people become comfortable on the water. Experienced paddlers with their own gear are invited to join these weekly events. You only need a waiver on file.
Weekly Community Paddles
Thursday Morning Paddle Club
kayakalki.com/morning-community-paddleTuesday Night SUPper Community Paddles
kayakalki.com/supper-community-paddleWe will also continue offering our Intro to Sea Kayaking and Rescue and Recovery classes, and we will add Navigation and Currents courses before the Blake Island trip.
These events are sponsored by Mountain to Sound Outfitters, so if you are getting into paddling, swing by the shop to start gearing up.
Mountain to Sound (WSB sponsor) is at 3602 SW Alaska; Alki Kayak Tours is at Seacrest, 1660 Harbor SW. Both of these weekly opportunities start in May – next week!
(Photo by Joan Mussa)
Thanks for the photos! Back on Monday, we mentioned that the first cruise ship of the season was scheduled to arrive in Seattle today. And indeed it did – the Norwewgian Jade sailed past West Seattle’s north shore on the way in to Pier 66 downtown early this morning.
(Photo by Stewart L.)
The Port of Seattle says this will be its biggest cruise season yet, “with 330 vessel calls and 2.1 million revenue passengers.” Its news release also notes:
In 2026, eleven homeport vessels will connect to shore power, with design underway for additional connections at Pier 91 that will come online in 2027. In 2025, 87% of shore power–capable vessels connected to clean power via Seattle City Light while at berth. This avoided an estimated 6,444 metric tons of CO2. In addition, to accommodate the growth in cruise operations, the Port has invested in two new passenger gangways.
“Homeport vessels” are the ones that we’ll see regularly, usually weekly, through the season – see the full schedule here. Last ship of the year is scheduled to visit October 11.
(File photo of Norwegian Jade via Wikimedia Commons)
One more sign of spring: Seattle’s cruise-ship season is about to start. The first scheduled ship is scheduled to arrive this Friday at downtown’s Pier 66, Norwegian Cruise Lines‘ 2,300-passenger Norwegian Jade. As is often the case toward the start and end of the season, this is a ship making a one-time stop here rather than one of the ships you’ll see weekly on round-trip sailings. The first of those will arrive two days later, Holland America Line’s Noordam, sailing Sundays from Pier 91 on the north side of the bay. Some new ships are calling this year, like Virgin Voyages‘ just-launched Brilliant Lady, debuting here May 21. This year’s Seattle cruise season runs through Sunday, October 11; see the full season schedule here.
(Added: Viewfinder photo by Brittany of PNW Orca Pod Squad Photography, at Pt. Williams)
11:56 AM: “We have an extremely rare orca sighting this morning,” Kersti Muul reports. “Currently off Brace Point southbound. These are whales with no IDs that have only been previously seen twice” – in the Gulf of Alaska and Vancouver (BC) Harbor – “and they have cookie-cutter shark marks on them, which means they came from warmer waters.”
3:30 PM: Steven Rice linked video in a comment below and also sent photos:
(added) Here’s his video:
(Photo by Karl Weyrauch)
Thanks for the tips and pics! Another notable sighting on Puget Sound from West Seattle shores today – the Corinthian Yacht Club‘s Three Tree Point Race.
(Photo by Carol Ann Joyce)
(Photo by Javier Fosado)
It’s part of a race series with 65 entrants.
(Added: Photo by Adam Wuerl)
Thanks for sending the tips and photos!
(Photo by Alex David)
Off West Seattle a short time ago, that’s the U.S. Navy‘s oldest aircraft carrier, USS Nimitz (CVN-68), leaving Puget Sound one last time, three months after returning to Bremerton following its final deployment.
(Added: Photo by Michael Fischer)
(Added: Photo by Vanessa)
It’s headed to Norfolk, VA, for decommissioning.
Thanks to the texter who sent that photo, wondering about the big blue crane – labeled #70 – traveling through Elliott Bay by barge. According to online info, it was built in Wisconsin for the U.S. Navy to use in working on submarines at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton. This story says the 200-foot crane has been waiting to be towed here since completion 2+ years ago. It’s part of a four-crane contract, according to this report, and has been in transit from Wisconsin (Lake Michigan) since mid-November.
Thanks to Steven Rice for the photo and report:
This is my first sighting of a “Repair, Berthing, and Messing” barge. It passed by Alki Point around 11:30 am presumably heading to Bremerton, but I didn’t get to see if it turned that way.
Here’s a link with basic info. And my shot from up near the west side of Schmitz Preserve.
An archives check brings up another reader photo of a YRBM in the area back in 2017.
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