Bill and Michele Herman’s boat “Summer Hours” sponsored by the Meydenbauer Bay Yacht Club won first prize in the category “Sponsored Decorated Boat” in Saturday’s Opening Day boat parade.

The 41-foot Meridian yacht was transformed into the space shuttle “Endeavor” for the day. Dozens of volunteers spent hours draping the boat and installing wings, a vertical stabilizer and smoking exhausts to make the boat look as realistic as possible.

The club’s five man amateur band, “Red Right Returning,” provided appropriate musical accompaniment by playing “Rocket Man” as the boat passed the judging stand. All eight crew members, including two “astronauts” waving American flags, added an additional exciting touch to the effort.

The boat received rousing cheers of approval from the thousands of onlookers on shore and aboard boats on the log boom.

Bob Moloney lives in Bellevue.