THIS SUNDAY: More than 100 boats from Brooklyn’s historic yacht clubs celebrate Blessing of the Fleet
Symbolic of a healthy and bountiful season of sailing, leaders of various faiths will bless more than 100 boats this Sunday, marking the annual Blessing of the Fleet, hosted this year by the historic Miramar Yacht Club on Emmons Avenue in Sheepshead Bay.
Brooklyn’s connection to the water is ancient and pivotal to its development history. Heightened awareness is brought to new developments like Brooklyn Bridge Park and the Domino development in Williamsburg, which draw more and more people to the waterfront.
But Brooklyn has a distinguished and almost hidden history of active yacht clubs that since the 19th Century, have provided serious sailors with access and social connections based on love of the water. The nearly eight active yacht clubs in Brooklyn today have a combined age of around 460 years.