After A Hard Winter, Blessing Of The Fleet A Welcome Event

CHATHAM – It was a tough winter for the New England commercial fishing industry.

 The Lily Jean out of Gloucester and the New Bedford-based Yankee Rose both sank with all hands. The impact was felt far behind the vessels’ home ports.

 The local nonprofit Women of Fishing Families (WOFF) sent grocery and gas cards as well as care packages to the families of the fishermen who lost their lives.

 “They had a lot of people depending on them,” said WOFF founding president Karen Murdoch. “We were lucky to be able to help these families because it affected fishing communities up and down the coast.”

 WOFF will bring the town’s commercial fishing fleet together Sunday, May 31 for the annual Blessing of the Fleet to both acknowledge the winter’s difficulties and set the stage for a safe and successful fishing season.

 “Fishing is one of the riskiest jobs in the country,” said WOFF development director Shannon Eldredge, “and to have your boat and family blessed before the season starts is sacred to this way of life.”

 The event is not just for commercial fishermen and their families, noted Murdoch. Everyone in the community is invited to attend.

 “We want everybody to feel welcome, whether you’re part of a fishing family or not,” she said. “It’s a great way to get to know your fishing community. We look at it as a day full of happiness to bring on the next season.”

 The free event, held at the municipal fish pier, begins at 2 p.m. with clergy from St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church and the First Congregational Church of Chatham blessing the town’s commercial fishing vessels, their owners, crews and families. Music, fresh seafood from the Chatham Harvesters Co-operative, a raw bar from Chatham Shellfish, beer and wine from Devil’s Purse and Shop Ahoy Liquors and Chatham Ice Cream Bars will be available. The Chatham Fish Pier Market will be open as well.

 The Creative Arts Center will sponsor a kids craft corner and games and other activities will be sponsored by North Chatham Outfitters. 

 Because parking at the pier is limited, Chatham Valet will operate a free shuttle from Chatham Elementary School beginning at 1 p.m.

 And pink boots will be scattered around the pier to collect donations for WOFF.

 “We need to replenish our accounts” after the rough winter, said Eldredge, noting that along with the tragic sinkings, the winter’s cold weather and icing made it difficult for a lot of fishermen and shellfishermen to work. “We did a lot of support for people who had that income gap, who needed just a leg up to get them over the hump so they could start work again.” The Blessing of the Fleet will be held rain or shine. For more information about WOFF, visit fishingfamilies.org.

 “We’re so happy to bring it back,” Murdoch said of the event, which returned last spring following a several years’ hiatus. “It’s our favorite thing to do. We love the mix of fun and fundraising. Having fun in the community while supporting others is the best part.”