SILVERDALE – Monsoon-like rainfall drenched hundreds of people attending the end of Whaling Days festivities in Silverdale July 26.
The Silverdale Rotary Duck Race took place that evening at Dyes Inlet near Waterfront Park.
As scheduled, the race started at 3 p.m. when 20,000 toy ducks poured from the side of a boat and into the water. Only two ducks made it through the collection tube before a torrential thunderstorm arrived to soak revelers. After a delay of an hour and a half, the race resumed, but off-shore winds made it difficult for the Ducks to get to shore. The last duck finally drifted across the finish line at 5:30 p.m.
The Duck Race, now in its 22nd year, is the Rotary Club of Silverdale’s major fund raiser. The net proceeds from the race are distributed to many community organizations through Silverdale Rotary’s “Duck Buck” grant process. Preliminary figures show that net proceeds total approximately $78,000.
Duck race prize winners are:
• Barbara Baglio of Tracyton won the Grand Prize, a $16,000 Nissan pickup truck donated by Advantage Nissan.
• Steve Terao of Silverdale won the Holland America cruise for two.
• Anna Borer of Silverdale won the Ben Bridge pearl necklace.
• Charles Whitmer of Bremerton won the Sound Sewing and Vacuum Singer sewing-embroidery machine.
• Irene Torella of Bremerton won $1,000 cash from Kitsap Credit Union.
• Tim Putansuu of Silverdale won the Amish Touch $1,000 shopping spree.
• Judy Conlow of Silverdale won the Quality Heating and Air Conditioning Certificate for Service.
Around 20,000 rubber ducks splash into Dyes Inlet near Silverdale Waterfront Park on July 25 during the 22nd annual Silverdale Rotary Duck Race. The event was one of the final attractions for the Whaling Days festival, and people lined the shore to watch the ducks get dropped into the water. A storm arrived shortly afterward, causing the duck race to be delayed for more than an hour. Barbara Baglio of Tracyton won the Grand Prize, a $16,000 Nissan pickup truck.
Attendees at the Whaling Days festival in Silverdale take shelter at Waterfront Park as heavy rain falls July 26. The monsoon-like rainfall forced the Jimi Hendrix cover band that was playing at the time to stop. The lead singer, Randy Hansen, told the crowd his microphone was shocking him and that he couldn’t safely continue. Crowds of people took shelter a the park’s covered areas and ‘ooh’-ed and ‘aah’-ed at nearby thunder and lighting.
People walk past rides and games at Whaling Days.
People stand along the shore to watch the duck race.
Jacinda Leon-Guerrero, 9, left, and Madison Whayne-Grimes, 2, both of Bremerton, ride in circles on a toy car carnival ride at Whaling Days before the rain hit on July 26.
Randy Hansen, right, and his band perform at the Silverdale Waterfront.
