In a revival of an old tradition, seven boats from the Thames River Yacht Club sailed from Lighthouse Cove into Chatham-Kent on Saturday afternoon.
It was a chilly morning for boating, many participants were wrapped up in blankets for the four-hour trip, but it was the right weekend to do it. "We can only do it either before the sailing season or after the sailing season," the club's Social Chair, Carly Dufour, explained. "You can't make it under the bridges with the mast up."
Members of the club got an official welcome when they arrived. "We were greeted by the mayor," Dufour, said. "I guess it was the tradition back when clubs and marinas would come to downtown Chatham. The first club to make it would be greeted by the mayor."
Dufour said that before 9-11 a number of clubs and marinas would make the journey along the Thames. "After 9-11 it became more difficult for people from the states to come down and the bridges were [fixed] so they wouldn't lift anymore."
She described Chatham as a hot spot for sailors in the past. "There's not many places you can go, by boat, where you wind up downtown."
The club will spend the day in Chatham-Kent, with reservations at a local restaurant and plans to explore the town before bunking down in their boats for the night.
For those interested in sailing, Dufour said there are lessons available in Chatham and Windsor, but there is a better way to get some experience.
"The best way to get started would be to show up on a Thursday night at the Thames River Yacht Club. We have races every Thursday [around 6 p.m.] after the May long weekend. People are always looking for crew," she said. "That's the best way to learn the ropes."
Saturday's event was the only one to Chatham-Kent for the year, but members plan to visit Peche Island, the North Channel, and Put-in-Bay during the sailing season.
