Tide to Table: A Swimming Success!
On Saturday, April 25th, the Bellingham Yacht Club was transformed into the ultimate Yacht Rock celebration as friends, families, and waterfront businesses came together for an unforgettable evening supporting the waterfront community.
Hosted by the Working Waterfront Coalition of Whatcom County, the event was a swimming success and raised support for both the Whatcom Working Waterfront Foundation and the Coalition’s ongoing efforts to protect and promote our working waterfront.
Before we dive into the highlights of the night, we want to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who continues to support the Foundation, the Coalition, and the future of our waterfront community.
Yacht Rock Table setting - Photo Credit: Dan Tucker
Everyone Who Made Tide to Table Possible
Working Waterfront Coalition of Whatcom County
Whatcom Working Waterfront Foundation
Dockside Market Vendors
Amazing Volunteers
These people are the reason Tide to Table was as successful as it was. The people who organized this event worked months leading up to the event and spent countless hours preparing and planning. Relying mainly on volunteer support, this night was truly hosted by the waterfront community!
Ficus and Cari Chan - Photo Credit: Dan Tucker
Cocktails, Crab, and a Crowd Ready to Party:
Guests arrived dressed to impress in their finest Yacht Rock suits, flowing dresses, and nautical-inspired attire, setting the tone for an evening full of waterfront fun. The Welcome Committee greeted everyone with drinks, appetizers, and paddle numbers to get the festivities underway.
Cocktail hour featured appetizers from this year’s Dockside Vendors: Sea to Shore, Crab Bellingham, Icy Fresh Seafood, Fifth Generation Fisheries, Slack Tide Fisheries, DJ Fish, Lummi Seafood Market, and Jean C. Family Fisheries.
As guests enjoyed their first bites and beverages, a few lively crabs worked the room, encouraging everyone to join in the evening’s first fundraiser, the raffle. This year’s raffle featured incredible prizes donated by North Line Seafood, Gato Verde Adventure Sailing, Sea to Shore, and Samson Winery.
From the first toast to the final raffle ticket, it was an unfathomable success!
Dani the Raffle Crab - Photo Credit: Dan Tucker
Dinner Brought to You by Drayton Harbor Oyster Company:
To keep everyone fueled throughout the evening, Drayton Harbor Oyster Company (DHO) treated guests to an unforgettable seafood boil featuring mussels and clams, potatoes, sausage, corn, and, of course, their famous oysters. Staying perfectly on theme with Tide to Table’s Yacht Rock vibe, guests were outfitted with all the necessary tools and PPE before diving into dinner.
But DHO brought more than just incredible food, they brought energy, laughter, and the kind of welcoming atmosphere that makes waterfront events so special. As a long-time friend and supporter of both the Foundation and Coalition, their presence was a true reflection of the strong relationships that keep our waterfront community connected.
Alongside DHO, we also want to give a huge thank you to all of the volunteers who helped make dinner a success!
Drayton Harbor Oyster’s Dinner - Photo Credit: Dan Tucker
Ready for the Regatta?
Guests were welcomed to dinner by an incredible spread of desserts gathered from bakeries and businesses across Whatcom County. From cakes and pastries to decadent sweet treats, the dessert table quickly became one of the most popular stops of the night.
The evening’s sweetest fundraiser, the Dessert Regatta, had guests strategizing from the moment bidding began. Tables competed for their starting positions in the race, knowing the highest bid earned first access to the dessert table. Once the race was on, it didn’t take long for plates to fill and desserts to disappear, leaving only crumbs behind.
A huge thank you to the generous dessert donors who made the Regatta possible: Pure Bliss, Community Food Co-op, Chuckanut Bay Foods, Colophon Cafe, Mercato Delle Bonta, It’s the Sweet Things, Slice of Heaven, Steve Walker, and Sierra Oliver.
It was truly the icing on the cake!
The Dessert Regatta Ruins - Photo Credit: Dan Tucker
Tides of Change:
The main event of the evening was, of course, the Live Auction and Raise the Paddle. After hearing powerful stories from members of the waterfront community and learning more about the impact these programs have on keeping our working waterfront thriving, guests were ready to show their support.
The Live Auction featured cruises, trips, dinners, and one-of-a-kind waterfront experiences that guests eagerly competed for throughout the night. The energy in the room was undeniable as guests bid on unforgettable experiences in support of the waterfront community.
The evening then shifted into Raise the Paddle, benefiting the Whatcom Working Waterfront Foundation and giving guests the opportunity to directly support workforce development and maritime education programs. To make the moment even more impactful, the Foundation received a generous $25,000 matching gift from the Celedo Fund of the Whatcom Community Foundation. Thanks to the incredible generosity in the room, that match was quickly blown out of the water.
The tides of change are already underway, made possible by the generosity and support of everyone who joined us that night.
Program Director, Sierra Oliver presenting - Photo Credit: Dan Tucker
The Beauty of Our Waterfront Community:
Hosted by the Working Waterfront Coalition of Whatcom County, the legendary Yacht Rock Tide to Table was a true celebration of the people who keep our waterfront thriving.
Thanks to the incredible generosity of everyone who attended, the Whatcom Working Waterfront Foundation not only met its fundraising match but exceeded it by an amazing margin. The evening was a powerful reminder that our waterfront works because of this community and the people who continue to support it.
Thank you to all of the guests, volunteers, sponsors, donors, and event staff who made the night such a success. We hope you had an unforgettable evening, and we look forward to seeing you again next year!
Photo Credit - Dan Tucker