The Burton Beach Rowing Club will host the annual Burton Beach Invitational (BBI) Regatta, presented by Windermere, on Sunday, March 19, at Jensen Point. Junior rowers from Washington and Oregon will compete in 1500-meter sprints on Quartermaster Harbor throughout the day.

“We are so lucky to have one of the best places to row in the Pacific Northwest and we’re always excited to share it with the other clubs in the area,” said BBRC Coach Richard Parr. “The island community has always been so supportive of the sport and this year is no exception.”

The event will attract more than 500 rowers and spectators to the island from ten or more clubs including the island’s two clubs, Burton Beach Rowing Club and the Vashon Island Rowing Club. Other area clubs already registered include the Olympia Area Rowing Association, Pocock (Seattle), Seattle Prep, Renton, Commencement Bay, and Oregon Rowing Unlimited (Portland).

“We’re grateful to so many people on the island that make this possible,” said the regatta co-organizer, Amie Macnab. “We’re excited to be able to bring so many people to the island, but we couldn’t do it without the support of local business sponsors and the ever-present generosity of our volunteers.”

This will be the fourth time the BBI has been hosted in Burton, and the second time since the pandemic interrupted things. The first event took place in 2018.

Races will kick off early on Sunday morning and will take place throughout the day. Islanders are welcome to come to Jensen Point to watch the racing. Admission is free.