HATTERAS ISLAND — The 22nd annual Day at the Docks — with two years off for the COVID-19 epidemic — on Saturday was a celebration of the rich fishing tradition here and the close-knit community that supports it.
The weather on the working waterfront in Hatteras Village was nearly perfect: bright sunshine with a pleasant breeze to moderate the temperature.
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The first Hatteras Village Day at the Docks followed closely on the heels of Hurricane Isabel after it made landfall on Sept.18, 2003, and cut a new 2,000-foot-wide inlet just north of Hatteras Village. Organized by owners of the Albatross Fleet offshore charter fishing service, Ernie and Lynn Foster, the first Day at the Docks was a way to bring the community together and lift its spirits.
The signature event of the day is the Blessing of the Fleet. During the blessing, the commercial and charter fleets leave their docks to sail to Pamlico Sound and reenter the harbor, led by the Fosters’ vessel Albatross. The fleet is then blessed with prayer and song and then returns to the sound with Coast Guard’s 47-foot Motor Lifeboat Hatteras Inlet cruising at the end of the procession.
A wreath is carried to the water to honor the memory of those in the fishing fleet who had died during the past year. Tradition holds that two children bring the wreath to the Albatross, a custom that began, bystanders told Coastal Review, with the first Day at the Docks. That’s when Ernie Foster realized he had left the dock without the wreath, and a skiff had to be sent out to the Albatross with the wreath then handed to him by children.
The day, however, includes more than the somber blessing of the fleet. It is a day filled with family-friendly, festive events, such as the chowder cookoff, live music and cooking demonstrations.
Hatteras Village’s Toucana Grill took first prize in the chowder cookoff for their she-crab bisque. Third-place winner Hatteras Seafood sold out of their “elevated traditional Hatteras-style” chowder.
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The cookoff is held as a fundraiser for the Hatteras Island Cancer Foundation, a nonprofit whose mission is to support cancer patients and their families living on Hatteras Island. The event was among a number of opportunities for attendees to support families of the Hatteras Island community.
“Taking care of our island and our island families is a valuable tradition,” Lynn Foster said in her opening remarks.
One of the most popular events of the day is the Youth Fishing Tournament — no rod or reel necessary. A bamboo pole complete with line, bobber and hook are provided.
In recognizing the most popular catch of the day, prizes are awarded for the heaviest pinfish brought to the pier, as well as prizes for the longest fish and heaviest fish overall. Organizers put this year’s participation at around 140-150 young anglers.
