Portland blessing honors boatmen

PORTLAND – About 100 people gathered over the weekend on the city waterfront for the annual blessing of the fleet, which this year was marked by a remembrance for eight Maine fishermen who had died at sea since March 2003.

The Rev. Lester York, dean of the Anglican Cathedral of St. Paul, said it is important to be mindful of the families of fishermen as well.

“Those who sit on the shore may not flirt with danger. But they know fear,” he said.

York walked up and down the Portland Fish Pier, blessing the assembled fishing boats. Inclement weather prompted a cancellation of a scheduled parade of fishing boats Saturday.

Maggie Raymond of Associated Fisheries of Maine read the names of the men who perished and threw a memorial wreath into the harbor.

“This has been a particularly difficult year because so many men were lost. Hopefully next year I won’t have to read any names,” she said.

The eight fishermen who perished at sea included four men aboard the Candy B II, which was lost off Nantucket, Mass., last October: Howard “Cappy” Crudell, 38, of Warren; Adrian Randall, 25, of Rockland; Ralph “Bubba” Boyington Jr., 34, Waldoboro; and Brandon “B.J.” Feyler, 17, of Union.

The other Maine fishermen who died between March 2003 and January 2004 were Frank Parker, Phil Buteau, Roy Bickford and Janusz Glab.

The tradition of blessing the fleet had lapsed for years in Portland before being revived four years ago, according to retired National Marine Fisheries Service agent Bob Morrill.

Yvette Alexander of the Maine Fishermen’s Wives Association described the ceremony as an opportunity for unity.

“It’s about coming together as a community,” she said.

Maine’s $200 million lobster industry accounts for about 70 percent of the state’s fishing revenue.