Residents have the chance to sail aboard a Gig Harbor icon at no cost this month.

The Gig Harbor BoatShop is offering an hour of sailing aboard Thunderbird No. 2, known as the  Pirouette, which the organization relaunched in May after two years of renovation.

“The object is to get people on the harbor, on the water. … I guess you might characterize it as giving back to the community,” said Guy Hoppen, founding director of the Gig Harbor BoatShop whose father, Ed, was instrumental in the development of the sailboat.

The excursion also is a chance for residents to learn a bit about sailing, Thunderbird lore and the boat shop.

Sailing times are noon Tuesdays; 3:30 p.m. Thursdays; 10 a.m., noon and 2 p.m. Saturdays; and 10 a.m. Sundays through Nov. 4. Reservations are required as there are only three spots available for each sailing. Residents can reserve a spot online by clicking here and scrolling to the bottom of the page.

Once reserved, residents are asked to dress for the weather, keeping in mind it’s always cooler on the water. They are also ask to wear soft-soled shoes. Life jackets will be provided and must be worn. No alcoholic beverages are permitted on board.

Hoppen said the Pirouette is sailing well in its second life, aided by volunteer skippers who are babying the boat whenever they take it out on the water.

“It’s really nice to see that there’s this staple of guys that love the boat as much as they do,” he said.

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