Northport Maritime Day and Blessing of the Fleet set for June 7
A powerboat receives its blessing at a past Northport Maritime Day and Blessing of the Fleet.
As the annual Northport Maritime Day and Blessing of the Fleet approaches, event organizers are readying to celebrate Northport’s maritime past, present and future. Running from 8am to 2pm on Saturday, June 7, the day will feature a wide variety of activities for all ages in Northport Village Park as well as a boat parade and vessels to be toured at the Village dock. Live music will be performed throughout the event.
Coordinated by the US Coast Guard Auxiliary Northport Flotilla, in partnership with the Village of Northport and the Northport Chamber of Commerce, the event schedule includes:
8am: Northport Farmers’ Market opens
10am-2pm: Opening of Village Park for Maritime Day activities, booths and exhibits
11am: Blessing of the Fleet Ceremony at the Northport Village dock
12-2pm: Tours of vessels at Northport Village Dock (including Fishing Vessels, US Coast Guard & US Merchant Marine Rescue & Response Crafts)
At the Village dock, over 100 boats will parade past from the fleets of the Northport and Centerport yacht clubs as well as general recreational vessels, many “dressed” with full nautical flags. Boat parade plans include a rescue response boat from US Coast Guard Station Eaton’s Neck, US Coast Guard Auxiliary Patrol Boats, the US Merchant Marine Academy’s 41-foot training vessel, the Northport Fire Department Rescue Boat and other public safety and maritime vessels.
Local clergy will bless each boat for a safe and enjoyable boating season. Elected officials, US Coast Guard leadership and yacht club flag officers will join in the review. After the blessing, many vessels will be available for tours at the dock. Each year, local baymen dock their fishing boats and welcome residents to learn of their work on the water. The US Merchant Marine Academy generally sends its 60-foot tug boat to the dock for public viewing as well.
In Village Park, the day will include a full range of seaworthy events, demonstrations and hands-on activities for all. The “Maritime Olympics” will offer opportunities for all to practice and/or learn about the lifesaving skills of active duty and Auxiliary Coast Guard including man overboard drills, search and rescue patterns, mayday calls, emergency hauling line throws and other seamanship skills. Coast Guard Auxiliarists will also provide an overview of the many activities that Auxiliary volunteers can participate in including direct support of our own US Coast Guard Station Eaton’s Neck.
Plans call for nautical and wider music to be supplied by the US Coast Guard Auxiliary Band and local Northport musicians. The Northport Sea Scouts generally host a “Rain-Gutter Regatta” for children. Northport’s maritime history will be on display by the Northport Historical Society. The Cornell Cooperative Extension Marine Program generally provides a Marine Life Touch Tank, and information on a wide variety of water quality issues and opportunities including shellfish restoration, the SPAT oyster program, the Stormwater/Education Program and other initiatives.
Maritime educational institutions invited include the US Coast Guard Academy, the US Merchant Marine Academy and SUNY Maritime.
A variety of other “hands-on” activities for young and old will be provided from other participating organizations.
Directly after the blessing, judges will officiate at the Maritime Day contests to select winners of the best maritime brews from local breweries.
For the latest information and schedule for Northport Maritime Day visit www.maritimeday.net.
