Newport Boating Community Unites for Memorial Boat Parade

NEWPORT, RI (May 5, 2021) – A group of community boaters is organizing a Newport Harbor Memorial Boat Parade for Sunday, June 6, starting at 5:30 p.m. The parade will pay tribute to members of the community who passed away in 2020 and 2021. 

“We’ve lost so many people over the past year who had an enormous impact on our community. The boat parade will be a meaningful tribute to those we have lost and an opportunity for all of us to spend some time together as we honor our loved colleagues, friends, and family members,” says Brad Read, Sail Newport executive director. 

Read was inspired to create the memorial boat parade during the past year because of the loss of opportunity to gather due to pandemic restrictions.

The parade of power and sailboats will gather near the entrance to Newport Harbor and parade in a clockwise direction, starting in the Goat Island area. The boat parade will then navigate clockwise around Newport Harbor. Boats will pass by Safe Harbor Newport Shipyard, State Pier 9, Newport Yacht Club, The Newport Harbormaster’s Office, Bowen’s and Bannister’s wharves, Hammetts Wharf, IYRS, Casey’s Marina, Ida Lewis Yacht Club, New York Yacht Club, Sail Newport, and end at Fort Adams Park. 

All boaters are encouraged to submit names of friends, family members or colleagues who have passed away for the memorial list. Sail Newport has a website sign-up that will collect the information to be announced during the parade and on its website. 

WADK-Radio (1540 AM) will broadcast coverage of the parade starting at 5:30 p.m. Local sailors and broadcasters Martha Parker and Bruce Newbury will provide commentary about the participating boats and the honorees as the parade progresses around Newport Harbor. 

Boats are required to register for the parade at Sail Newport’s website sailnewport.org. There is no fee for participation, and all boaters will receive instructions on the parade lineup via email in the days preceding the parade. 

The Newport Memorial Boat parade can be viewed from points surrounding the waterfront in Newport Harbor. Spectators are reminded to adhere to state and city guidelines for COVID safety.

“This on-the-water tribute is a wonderful opportunity to get outside and use the beautiful setting of Newport Harbor to honor those who are missed,” Read adds.  

Contact Emily Greagori, event manager, Sail Newport, telephone (401) 846-1983, email: emily.greagori@sailnewport.org.  

For more information and to register, log onto https://sailnewport.org/calendar/newport-memorial-boat-parade-2/