At 87, Bill Wurster is a man of many talents. Business owner, family guy, hydroplane racer and one of the seven founders of the Seattle Seafair Pirates, he attributes much of his success to his good friends and his father’s mantra that he could do whatever he wanted, if he applied himself.

Wurster’s father died when he was 17, placing Wurster at the head of the household.

“He has a very deep devotion to his family that continues to this day,” said lifelong-friend John Dowbroski.

Though he was still in high school at the time of his father’s death, Wurster lied about his age and landed a job with Boeing.

In 1948, after a short stint as a commercial artist, Wurster opened his own advertising agency. It was in advertising that he would learn the business skills needed to succeed in what would seem to be a very different career path – that of a hydroplane racer and Seafair Pirate.

That same year a new owner called Seafair Inc. appropriated the hydroplane races and summer parades that would become defining features of today’s Seafair celebration.

Wurster and his agency friends began discussing the new ownership while frequenting the Washington State Press Club. That’s where the idea for the Seafair Pirates took root.

“We came up with the story that we were pirates, coming to town to get rid of King Neptune,” said Wurster.

The seven young men initially saw it as a promotion gig for the summer festival. They made arrangements for a boat, landing in 1949 for the first time at Coleman dock, today’s ferry terminal.

It was an instant hit, and Wurster and his friends didn’t take their pirate performances lightly. The following year, they collected old boats to incorporate into their act and negotiated with the Coast Guard for a vessel. They would burn the barges and old cruisers as a warning to King Neptune.

Many of the early traditions are still honored, said Wurster. For instance, today’s troupe of pirates storms Alki after landing their colorful vessel, the Moby Duck, which the founders secured in a Coast Guard sale in 1954.

Wurster’s love for the water didn’t end with the Seafair Pirates. He recalls watching the hydroplane races with his younger brother on Lake Washington in 1967.

“I became so excited about the racing activities that I made the remark that I was going to drive one someday,” Wurster said. “He bet me $300.”

Five years later and in his late 40s, Wurster began repairing the race boats in exchange for lessons.

“I placed in the final standings in my [first] race,” Wurster said of the 1972 Seafair Regatta, his eyes lighting up.

His experiencing wooing clients at the advertising agency paved the way for his career in hydroplane racing. In the 13 years he raced, he won such sponsors as Sunny Jim Peanut Butter, Pringles and perhaps the one he is most proud of, Tide.

“Sponsorships provide the money it takes to race, and racing unlimited hydroplanes is really expensive when it becomes competitive,” Wurster said. “It’s no longer a hobby, it’s a business. In the off season, we’d repair the hydroplanes, rebuild the engines. It’s a never-ending job, but being successful in a boat race means being prepared.”

Wurster continued racing competitively until 2006, when he retired at the age of 83. But before selling his boat, he decided to go out one last time.

“They put you in a capsule, and you put your breathing mask on, and it stops upside down as it fills with water,” Wurster said of the certification test required to race unlimited hydroplanes.

“You’re upside down with your breathing mask, and you have to take off the steering wheel because you can’t get out of the boat with the steering wheel in place,” he said. “Then you reach down and open the trapdoor below you. Then you unclip your safety belt and swim out with your mask. You have to do that in sequence, and I passed that at age 82 because I wanted to take my boat out before I sold it.”

Wurster is one of the oldest winning owners of unlimited hydroplanes. Though he will not be participating in this year’s Seafair festivities, he vows to be in the audience.

The Greenwood Seafair Parade takes place at 6 p.m. July 28. The Seattle Seafair Torchlight Parade takes place at 7:30 p.m. July 31 in Downtown Seattle. Visit www.seafair.com for more information.