May Perspective

Yesterday marked the 25^th anniversary of an event that is a touchstone for our company, our family of offices and agents, and the University of Washington.  The Windermere Cup, held annually on the first day of boating season, is both an international sporting event and an opening day party, followed by the world’s largest boat parade. But more than that, it’s a celebration of camaraderie, teamwork and a commitment to excellence.

The camaraderie is everywhere you look: on the banks of the Montlake Cut, where Seattle residents welcome visitors from around the world to the beautiful University of Washington campus; on the water, where great athletes join together to do what none of them could do individually. Thousands of people coming together for a common cause. That, in and of itself, is powerful stuff.

But what we find most remarkable about this sport, and what sets the Windermere Cup apart from most other major sporting events, is the teamwork. Though it may look easy from the sidelines, rowing is a physically demanding full-body sport. Rowers practice long hours, starting before dawn and ending after sunset, both on the water and in the gym. A crew boat can only race if all eight members plus the coxswain show up, and they can only perform as well as the weakest among them. There are no superstars in crew. It’s one for all, and all for one. So they leave their personal issues at home and push themselves to the limit, every time, for the love of the team.

It’s that commitment to excellence, seen on the face of every rower on every shell at the Windermere Cup, that makes us proud to sponsor this community event each year. It reminds us of our own guiding principles at Windermere: strong relationships built on trust, goodwill and mutual respect; a spirit of teamwork that makes us more successful as a whole than we are individually; and a ceaseless commitment to excellence and unparalleled service. It’s truly a great tradition to be a part of.

Thanks to everyone who’s ever come to the Windermere Cup. And here’s to 25 more years.

Photo by Steve Ringman, The Seattle Times on May 7th, 2011.

Photo by Steve Ringman, The Seattle Times on May 7th, 2011