"Last year the Wooden Boat Festival, Sea Fair Safety Rodeo and Kachemak Kayak Festival morphed into a tripod of support to create something much grander, something bigger than the sum of its parts," Tollefsrud said.

This year's festival will be May 22-26.

Wells Fargo has stepped to the front of the line as a primary sponsor with a $5,000 contribution. As it did last year, First National Bank Alaska also has thrown in its support to the tune of $2,500.

"They both have been magnificent at this," Tollefsrud said of the institutions' financial support.

In keeping with its mission to protect the watershed of Cook Inlet and all the life it sustains, Cook InletKeeper has volunteered to be the festival's "fiscal agent."

"That means if you want to make a cash donation, it can go through our relationship with Cook InletKeeper and it can be tax deductible because of its nonprofit status," Tollefsrud explained. "We are the life it (Cook InletKeeper) sustains, so, what a perfect backer."

Some of the past sponsors who are once again involved include the Wooden Boat Society, the United States Coast Guard, representatives of the local marine trades and commercial fisheries, the Kachemak kayak community and SAFE Kids.

Anyone wanting to be added to the list of sponsors has until April 11 to make those wishes known. For varying levels of support, sponsors will receive mention on the chamber's Seafest Web site being constructed especially for the event at www.homeralaska.org. Depending on the level of support, individual sponsors also will be recognized in chamber newsletters preceding the festival, will be noted in the Seafest guide and have the option to be included in public service announcements.

Among the many activities scheduled is an evening of singing sea shanties at the Salty Dawg that kicks off the festival. A "High Seas Film Night" will be at Alice's Champagne Palace the following night. Steve Lloyd, owner of Title Wave Books in Anchorage, will give a presentation on his discovery of sunken vessels in Alaska.

Saturday, the action shifts to the barge basin, with demonstrations, information booths and activities for the kids. There also are several events focusing on the contributions of the Coast Guard, including a visit by a helicopter from Air Station Kodiak, a demonstration by a rescue swimmer and open house aboard the USCGC Hickory.

"The Hickory also is challenging other teams in a survival suit race," said Kate Mitchell, owner of NOMAR, who is helping coordinate the event. "The Homer firefighters won last year and got a big kick out of it. This year the winner of the race gets a steak dinner on the Hickory."

Mitchell anticipates vendor booth activities will be heaviest on Saturday and Sunday.

"But if you pay for two days, you get all four days if you want to have a booth," she said.

The Homer Yacht Club joins the action with its first race of the season that Saturday. Keynote speaker Jill Fredston, author of "Rowing to Latitude," will speak that evening.

"We've got a good strong, speaker," Mitchell said, praising Fredston's ability to communicate with her audience.

Carrying over from Saturday, but with a sharper focus on Sunday, are numerous events sponsored by the Kachemak Bay Wooden Boat Society, according to society president Dave Seaman. The kids' boat building will be there both Saturday and Sunday, and the younger crowd will be issued festival passports. Five stamps from five activities nets them a prize.

"Sunday we'll have wooden boat demonstrations of traditional marine arts caulking, planking, steam bending and two guys forging caulking tools and hopefully some bronze casting," Seaman said.

That evening is the Fashion Splash at Land's End, as well as a final chance for the public to bid on decorated pairs of Xtra Tufs in the Painted Soles silent auction.

Monday afternoon, the fun continues through the day, and include the Pedersen Classic Rowing Races, with kids competing in the basin and adults tackling a one-mile course outside the basin, along the Spit.

New to the list of activities this year is a juried art show being coordinated by local artist Brad Hughes. Accepted two- and three-dimensional pieces will be displayed at Alaska Islands and Ocean Visitor Center.

The festival comes to a close with a family barbecue.

"This is recognition for all the different groups that make their living on the water," Mitchell said of the festival.

Contribution and registration forms, as well as vendor and event sponsor applications are available at the chamber or by emailing kbayseafest@homeralaska.org. For more information, Tollefsrud can be contacted at 235-7262 or 399-7262.

"It's fun for the whole family," Tollefsrud said. "I don't see why this shouldn't be huge. Who cannot get excited about a sea festival? We all breathe the sea here."

McKibben Jackinsky can be reached at mckibben.jackinsky@homernews.com.