Update on USCG marine event permit application

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Haley Lhamon

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Jan 31, 2026, 12:06:00 AM (3 days ago) Jan 31
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Hi NWISA,
My apologies for the delay on an answer regarding hosts submitting separate USCG marine event permit applications vs. one big application submitted by NWISA for the year or season. 

USCG Sector Puget Sound Waterways’ Management Office is requiring separate marine event permit applications for all of our 2026 scheduled venues except Lake Whatcom. Applications must include a small chart of the area. Please see their reply below. They copied the Oregon USCG waterways management office (for regattas on Willamette River). Applications must be submitted (by each host/program) by email. 

We discussed the deadline of 135 days ahead of marine events at the post-fall NWISA District meeting, and I know at least a few of you have already submitted CG permit applications for hosting this year. If you haven’t submitted an application yet, please do so ASAP. If all of their criteria have been met, the deadline is 60 days in advance; otherwise it is 135 days in advance—please submit even if you don’t have that much time. 

Here is the link to the list of criteria (including previously approved application for identical event preceding year) for 60-day deadline vs. 135 days ahead of event:

The permit application is attached and here:

Link to Northwest District Waterways Management page (click link for Marine Events in WA, OR, ID):
Thank you very much for hosting and for your effort on these permit applications!

Kind regards,
Haley
NWISA Board Advisor/Member-at-Large

P.S.  I’m out of the country cruising until Feb 9. If you have a question about the application, please read the linked documents and then contact the relevant CG branch offices listed below. You could also call or email Jack Killalea at CYC who has had several previous applications approved for Shilshole Bay regattas: 


---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: SectorPugetSoundWWM <SectorPug...@uscg.mil>
Date: Tue, Jan 27, 2026 at 4:38 PM
Subject: RE: Northwest high school sailing event host permits
To: Haley Lhamon <haley....@gmail.com>
CC: Sarah Hanavan <sjha...@gmail.com>, SMB-SectorColumbiaRiver-WWM <SCR...@uscg.mil>


Thank you for reaching out for clarification. While the linked spreadsheet is helpful for planning purposes, each event must have a separate CG-4423 Application for Marine Event submitted. In addition to the application, a chartlet of the event area or course is required. Should you have numerous events in the same location (e.g. weekly series), these may be captured on a single application. Below is the standard for submissions and our office will work with your staff to establish a proactive posture for future events.

 

Lake Whatcom, which is not a federal navigable waterway does not require an application for marine event.

 

The application must be submitted no less than 135 days before the start of the proposed event. However, if all the criteria as outlined in 33 CFR 100.15 are met, the application must be submitted no less than 60 days before the start of the proposed event. 

 

I have copied our counterpart in Oregon, USCG Sector Columbia River, for visibility on the Willamette River event. They will be the office to process permits for events in Oregon, most of the Columbia River system, and WA coast South of Tahola.

 

Very Respectfully,

-Michel Carreon

USCG Sector Puget Sound

Waterways Management

Ph:206.217.6051

SectorPug...@uscg.mil

 

From: Haley Lhamon <haley....@gmail.com>
Sent: Monday, January 12, 2026 10:07 AM
To: SectorPugetSoundWWM <SectorPug...@uscg.mil>
Cc: Sarah Hanavan <sjha...@gmail.com>
Subject: [Non-DoD Source] Northwest high school sailing event host permits

 

Dear Sector Puget Sound’s Waterways Management Branch Office,

 I am on the board of the Northwest Interscholastic Sailing Association (NWISA), and we have nearly finished determining locations and hosts for the 2026 spring and fall schedules for high school sailing clinics and regattas in Oregon and Washington. My good friend USCG Captain John Dewey advised that I contact you (he says hi by the way!). 

 On behalf of NWISA, I'd like to find out if you would prefer that each NWISA host program submit a separate permit applications for each event or could NWISA please submit one application for all 2026 events (for the year or one for spring and one for fall)? I understand you would certainly like to be aware of all events. John explained you may determine that a permit is not required for certain locations based on your process and risk assessment matrix (in which case, you would issue a Letter of No Action). 

We have approximately 11 PNW marine events this spring and 8 PNW events in the fall. Venues include Willamette River (in front of the Willamette Sailing Club), Olympia (just west of the Port Plaza), Silverdale, Liberty Bay in Poulsbo, Eagle Harbor on Bainbridge, Sail Sand Point on Lake WA, Bellingham Bay (near Zuanich Point Park), Lake Whatcom, Oak Harbor (next to marina), and Shilshole Bay. Here is our current draft schedule (please see the 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 tabs at the bottom):  https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1TNm_dwEdLZvNqFker6lu9Q15JD4rwURMW5dK0BLHsdE/edit?usp=sharing

Thank you for your time and consideration! Please advise and contact me if you have any questions.

 

Sincerely,

Haley Lhamon

Cc: Sarah Hanavan, NWISA President 

CG-4423 Application for Marine Event.pdf
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