This annual gathering is meant to be a fun get-together for Mariner sailors. As always, this is a rain or shine event.
All Mariner Class Association members, friends and family are strongly encouraged to participate with your Mariner, but if you can’t, you are invited to find overnight accommodations nearby and come by car! We would love to have you join in the fun as a guest onboard someone else’s Mariner for the Saturday activities or for the sail to or from Essex on Friday or Sunday.
Boat, Skipper, and all Crew = $250.
Each Coming by Car = $25.
For those able to show up to the Niantic River Boat Launch on Thursday afternoon, we’ll rig our boats and eat dinner at nearby restaurants. Once everyone arrives by Friday morning, we’ll head westward and then north up the Connecticut River, arriving in the afternoon at Safe Harbor Essex Island where floating slips will be waiting for us.
On Saturday morning, interested sailors will motor upriver as a group into Hamburg Cove to explore its incredibly picturesque scenery. Sailors can even pick up an empty, private mooring in the cove for a short time to go swimming right off your boat if desired! The rest of the day can be spent sailing the Connecticut River, perusing the shops up and down Main Street, taking a tour of the nearby Connecticut River Museum, sailing onboard the Onrust, or simply enjoying all the marina has to offer, which includes a swimming pool, outdoor games, and even a playscape for children. Or you may want to simply sit and relax for a while underneath a tent-covered, private area with tables and chairs right by our boats reserved exclusively for us the whole weekend.
At 5:00 pm, we’ll have our “Open Boat” time to check out all the docked Mariners and share drinks and snacks amongst ourselves. After a group picture at 6:00 pm, we’ll split up and go off on our own to get dinner at local restaurants, including the nearby Siren Kitchen and Bar, Griswold Inn, Black Seal, and Carlson’s Landing. On Sunday morning, we’ll sail back down the river and head home, arriving in Niantic early- to mid-afternoon.