Alderney’s annual blessing of the boats ceremony

Laura Hodgetts
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A blessing of the boats ceremony took place today in Alderney’s Little Crabby harbour, Braye, reports Chris Rees.

The annual service, which began in the 1980s, is performed to keep those who work and play at sea, safe from harm.

Representatives of the Anglican and Methodist churches and the Salvation Army led the service. The Island Band played. Rev Stephen Masters gave thanks for deliverance from 48 hours of wet and foggy weather in time for this service!

Alderney’s Trent class lifeboat, 14-04 Roy Barker 1, played an uncharacteristically distant part in the service. Launched in 1995, she has just returned from her final refit. She rescued two local fishermen from the rocks last week and yesterday recovered a visitor who had fallen from a cliff on the island’s south coast.

Last Saturday day-long fog caused Alderney airline, Aurigny, to charter the French ferry Victor Hugo to transfer more than 100 would-be air passengers up from Guernsey in time to participate in Alderney Week which kicked off on that day and which is now in full swing.

Providentially Victor Hugo was laying over at Braye after bringing French visitors for a day visit to the festivities.

 

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