The weekly “Lake Union Duck Dodge” as viewed from a portion of Charles Greening’s “Sundial” at Gas Works Park. The viewer becomes the vertical element to the sundial – the gnomon – by standing in the middle. “Sundial” stands atop a large manmade hill made of thousands of cubic yards of crushed building foundation and top soil on the north shore of Lake Union.
Gas Works Parks stands on the grounds of the former Seattle Gas Light gasification plant that operated from 1906 to 1956. The park opened in 1975 and as it was a former industrial site has undergone significant bio-phyto-remediation.
The Tuesday evening Duck Dodge is a summer tradition on Lake Union that began in the mid 70s. Dozens of boats “race” on a course for two hours, then proceed to converge for a themed party. The rules are pretty simple: Don’t make a duck change its course and don’t run into other boats. The winners get a duck decal for their mast.
The original handbill from that first summer in 1974, when the race was called the “Lake Union Beer Can Regatta or Tenas Chuck Duck Dodge”, proclaims that any skipper, any sailboat, any crew can participate and that same fun spirit survives. Every race has a theme – prom, Mardi Gras, pirates, pajamas – and every week there is a different host Committee Boat.
Would love to have seen this! Nice photos. How can you go wrong with a lake full of sails on a beautiful day!
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