Blessing of the Fleet

Website: https://www.nyharborsailing.com/

Friday, June 4, 2010 - 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.

All vessels in New York Harbor are invited to participate in the "Blessing of the Fleet." This will take place on Friday, June 4 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. The blessings will be conducted in the Hudson River off Battery Park City in Lower Manhattan.

A Blessing of the Fleet is a maritime tradition practiced around the world. New York Harbor's blessing is open to all vessels including powerboats, sailboats, ferries, tugs, human paddle boats and others.

This year, the Blessing will be held in the Hudson River. Vessels shall pass in a northerly direction close to the Battery Park City esplanade, starting at Pier A and continuing until the entrance to North Cove.

A representative delegation of spiritual leaders will be based at the Official Reviewing Platform on the Tall Ship Pride of Baltimore II. The Pride II will be docked along the south seawall inside North Cove.

To start the blessings, a canon will be fired at exactly 6:30 p.m.. No vessel shall pass the Official Reviewing Platform before the canon. A canon will also be fired at 7:30 to signify the end of the Blessing of the Fleet.

Vessels should fall into line in the Hudson River near Pier A from 6:20 p.m. onwards. Then vessel should proceed north along the seawall at approximately 5 knots. Vessels should stay in order and not try to overtake each other. Larger vessels may stay further off the seawall and smaller vessels closer to the seawall.

Members of the public and press will also be invited to watch the Blessing of the Fleet from the esplanade. There will be a public address system to identify your vessel to the public as you approach the Official Reviewing Platform (it is important that you pre-register and give us information on your vessel).

As each vessel passes an orange flag at the Official Reviewing Platform, they will be blessed. When you pass the flag, we encourage you to blow your horn or make other sound signals as you wish.

If you have a vessel in New York Harbor, we encourage you to participate in the "Blessing of the Fleet." Please register and provide us with your email so we can update you on the final parade route on the day before the event. We also encourage you to dress ship, dress crew, fly flags and otherwise participate in as festive a manner as you can.

After your vessel is blessed, turn towards port and head back out into the Hudson River so as not to get close to the ferry terminal north of the North Cove entrance.