Reverend Arlene Bodge of Chilmark Community Church opened the start of the summer boating season with the annual blessing of the fleet ceremony on the Menemsha waterfront.

"May your blessing be on these good crafts and all who sail on them," she said, adding to this the wish for fair winds and weather.
 
Everyone joined in to sing the Coast Guard Hymn, Edson Rogers of Edgartown performed America the Beautiful on his trumpet, and church organist Carol Loud played an electric organ. A long list of captains both of commercial and recreational boats was read aloud. It was church on the harbor, complete with Sunday School. A group of children attended the event and toy boats were arranged in the parking lot so Reverend Bodge could share with the youth the meaning of her blessing. 
 
During the service the fishing boat Unicorn, with Captain Gregory Mayhew and his crew, arrived after a morning of fishing for fluke off Gay Head. The time of their arrival into the harbor seemed a blessing.