OPAL’s Second Online Auction Opens September 11

Penny Sharp Sky paints the tank for the OPAL online auction. The online site can be viewed now. Bidding starts Sept. 11

A beautiful 12-foot “Whitehall” rowing skiff, made in Victoria, B.C., is one of the featured items you can bid on in OPAL’s second annual online auction, which opens Sunday, September 11, at 8 a.m. at www.biddingforg ood.com/opalauction.It will run for two weeks.

The skiff is on display at the OPAL office, at the corner of Enchanted Forest Road and Lover’s Lane.

According to auction chair Helen Bee, “OPAL’s second annual online auction is definitely a win-win for the island. Bidders may find bargains on things they need or would buy anyway, and every dollar goes to support permanently affordable housing on Orcas.”

This year there are more than 100 items, most of which are local goods and services. Look for wine, restaurant gift certificates, propane, gravel for your driveway, lube jobs for your car, haircuts, massages, pilates, yoga classes, jewelry and crafts, a boat “haul out” at West Sound Marina, and some great local boating trips that would be perfect for your visiting family next summer. The list is rounded out with a few exotic travel items and several off-island restaurant and lodging choices.

Whitehall skiffs, described as “distinctively elegant and extremely practical,” are particularly prized by boating folks. The skiff was built in 1993 but has been very lightly used and is in great shape. This particular model was called a Tyee-12 at the time it was made; it is now marketed as a Westcoast 11’6″ rowboat. It is made from fiberglass, with teak trim, and is rigged to use with either a small outboard motor or spoon oars. There are potentially two rowing spots, but the donor says that it works best with only one rower. The oars come with the boat, as does a canvas cover and an EZ Loader trailer.

OPAL invites everyone on the island to join in the fun of bidding in the online auction. It’s easy, and the competitive spirit may catch you. To bid, go to www.biddingforgood.com/opalauction. Register to bid by clicking the “register” link in the top center of any page, about 1 inch down from the top. Then start browsing and bidding.

OPAL’s annual benefit dinner and gala will be held on Saturday, October 1, at Orcas Center. Tickets are $125 per person and can be reserved by calling the OPAL office at 376-3191. The much-loved dessert rush, as well as the paddle raise for OPAL, will be held at the gala this year. The only auction component is this online event.

OPAL stands for “Of People and Land,” representing a commitment to protecting natural resources while providing permanently affordable homes for people who are vital to the Orcas Island community. OPAL continues to accept applications from people who are not able to purchase a home on the open market. For more information, go to: www.opalclt.org.