Larchmont Sailors Honor Those Lost at Ground Zero

photos and account courtesy of Cynthia Parthemos aboard Satan's Toe

( September 15, 2002) It was barely light at 6: 00 am on Saturday morning when Satan's Toe motored out of Larchmont Yacht Club to meet and escort the Sail for America fleet down the East River. The rendezvous was just off Kings Point by the Throgs Neck Bridge. From there the fleet proceded, with the lead held by KingsPointer from the Merchant Marine Academy and the rear brought up by the United States Coast Guard. Approximately 200 sailboats made the trip down the East River to the Statue of Liberty where they joined with the fleets coming from South of the Verrazano Bridge and down the Hudson

Flying from Satan's Toe was a flag bearing the name of John McErlean, Larchmont resident and Yacht Club member lost at the World Trade Center. Over 3000 flags, each with the name of one victim of the attack, were flying from the boats in the processions.

Suddently, a New York City fire boat opened all its hoses, releasing giant sprays of water into the air. At this signal, hundreds of boats raised their sails to file past Ground Zero.

" I was surprised by the quietness," said Larchmonter George Parthemos who witnessed the event from Satan's Toe, "The lack of chatter on the radios, the lack of people yelling or screaming. The lack of music. Just the very peaceful solemn march up the water past Ground Zero."

Among the boaters were Larchmonters Ned and Terry Ferrarone with Tom Spelman and Ed Capuano on Running Wild (at right above) and the duMoulin family and friends sailing the Lora Ann. More information on the event may be found at the Sail For America website..

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