A gentle breeze helped maneuver Hope into shore for a blessing of floats and the Junior Sailing Fleet at the Boothbay Harbor Yacht Club in the early evening on June 21.

Paul Coulombe, captained his new 52-foot Morris-built sailing yacht, to event, at which he was the guest of honor. It was his donation that enabled the club to purchase the floats.

Coulombe is a strong supporter of sailing programs. His children have been past sailing program participants and family members continue the tradition. The new floats, built by Blake's Boat Yard in Boothbay Harbor, connect the club dock to another dock on land the club acquired in 2010.

The event also launched the summer season on the harbor. Club members and their families have reunited, sails have unfurled from their masts and warm breezes waft through the open doors of the clubhouse. A large crowd gathered on the pier to watch and listen.

Maine singer-songwriter Lisa Redfern performed the national anthem and other music for the audience, following remarks from Commodore Marianne Reynolds and the club's Junior Program foundation board member Betty Maddocks.

Rev. Peter Panagore blessed the floats and junior sailing fleet and led the service in prayer. After Coulombe cut the ribbon on the new floats, young, sunburned sailing instructors hesitantly introduced themselves to the attentive crowd looking down on the water from the clubhouse pier.

Reynolds said the sailing program launched just this week. It is a nine-week program that, so far, has eight students participating. Club staff said they expect more will join the sailing program soon.

Sailors, beginner and expert, use Optimist Class boats in the program. These boats, once built for economy of materials, are used around the world for racing, according to club manager James Matel.