The wind was brisk and the temperatures a little chilly on Saturday, but it didn’t stop a small flotilla of Thames River Yacht Club members from renewing an annual trip up the Thames River.
Carly Dufour, chair of the club’s social committee, said some longtime members suggested they motor up the Thames River like they used to, so she reached out via social media and 20 members with seven boats decided to make the trip.
Although it was cold on the river, Dufour said, “It’s just nice to be out on the water together.”
She said club members have come up for the night, which includes having dinner together at the Satellite Restaurant before heading over to Sons of Kent Brewing Co., to take in a rock-a-thon fundraiser featuring 12-hours of live music.
“Then we’re going to sleep on our boats,” she laughed.
Dufour said years ago, members of different yacht clubs would make the trip up the Thames River to Chatham together. She added the first club to arrive would traditionally be greeted by the mayor.
Mayor Darrin Canniff had an event to attend out of town Saturday, but took the time to greet yacht club members over the phone when he learned of their tradition.
The mayor thanked them for making the trip to the downtown core.
Tim Labute, commodore of the Thames River Yacht Club, would like to see it become an annual trip.
“The goal of our club is to get more people interested in sailing and more people out to buy sailboats and enjoy the sport with us,” he said.
The club has seen growth in recent years boasting 108 members with 68 sailboats and only has four slips available in their dock area at Lighthouse Cove.