‘Fair Weather And Smooth Sailing’ - Annual Blessing Of The Chatham Fleet

CHATHAM – Thanks to the wind, it wasn’t a great day to be on the water, but for the fishermen whose boats were pulled up to the fish pier’s south jog, Sunday’s Blessing of the Fleet portends clear sailing ahead.

Returning after a five-year absence, the Blessing of the Fleet brought out a big crowd of local residents, members of the commercial fishing community and curious visitors. The event was sponsored by Women of Fishing Families (WOFF) and included fresh seafood and shellfish as well as the traditional blessing by local clergy.

The ceremony opened with music from piper Sarah Marchio and “A Call to the Sea” played on flutes by Mike and Ben McGrath. Leyla Holmes performed “Christ Be Our Light, and Rev. Dr. John Martiner of St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church and Rev. Dr. Bonnie Scott of the First Congregational Church offered opening prayers. The two blessed the harbor waters and walked along the south jog blessing the fishing boats tied up there.

Laura Barabe sang “Calling My Children Home,” retired fisherman Mike Anderson read his poem “Everyone Wore Boots,” and Barabe and Regan Murdoch sang “A Departing Blessing” to close the ceremony.

Karen Murdoch of WOFF also introduced recipients of the group’s scholarships: Lillian Rego, who will be attending UMass Dartmouth; Paige Nash, recipient of the Dave Murdoch Scholarship, who will be attending Hofstra University; Iona McKenna-Kaplan, matriculating at Ekerd College; Alison Barabe Scholarship recipient Finn Hyora, who will be attending UMass Amherst; Chloe Nash, who received the BLISKA Scholarship and will be attending Smith College; Eve Storer, who will be attending the University of Arizona; and Ben McGrath, who plans to go to Cape Cod Community College.