A rainy start, but skies clearing for Sailfest
While the food may have been sizzling, the clouds were drizzling early Friday afternoon
New London — The Sailfest website encouraged prospective visitors to “leave the diet behind and have a little fun on a sizzling summer Friday afternoon.” But while the food may have been sizzling, the sky was drizzling early in the afternoon.
By evening, the rain gave way to mostly cloudy skies with a breeze cutting through the humidity, and those working on Friday felt optimistic about the rest of the weekend.
Sailfest kicked off with food vendors at noon, while amusement rides started running at 3 p.m. and live music began at 6. The summer event, which is celebrating its 40th anniversary, is running from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. today and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday.
On the Friday night schedule was a 40th Anniversary Bash sponsored by Jammin 107.7, with a DJ playing the No. 1 song from each of the last 40 years. On Sunday, visitors can take pictures in front of the 40th anniversary logo in a photo both on Custom House Pier.
Sailfest director Barbara Neff said early Friday afternoon, “With the weather today, obviously it’s been a slow start, but we’re hoping that it’ll get busier when it clears up.”
She said the weather stalled the
original plan to open the merchandise tent at noon but otherwise hasn’t inhibited planning.
Banquet in a Bun worker Peter Hernandez was busy sweeping away water outside the concession stand, so that patrons wouldn’t have to stand in a puddle while ordering.
With its location on City Pier, Hernandez noted that Banquet in a Bun is in a good spot because it’s where many people come to view the fireworks. The fireworks, sponsored by the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation and Foxwoods Resort Casino, are scheduled to go off at 9 p.m. Saturday.
Also located on City Pier are the amusement rides, a switch from their spot in the parking lots on Eugene O’Neill Drive last year.
Once the sky cleared, the Ferris wheel was running. The polka-dotted tunnel to walk across in Big Fred’s Laboratory was slowly rotating. On the Spinner, a few kids shouted playfully at each other as they spun in the air around a center post adorned with a green tornado mascot, eyes looking in opposite directions and tongue stuck out sideways.
Arthur Sylvester gave the Ferris wheel a test run and stood waiting until he got a few people to ride. He has been operating the ride for Savin Rock Amusements for the past 12 years or so, and he’s at Sailfest every year.
By the Custom House Pier Stage, North End Deli was serving up clam fritters, sausage grinders and fried dough.
“The setup was a little challenging, but the sun is coming out now and we think it’s going to be a great weekend,” Gates Councilor said. “Everything is hot and ready to go.”
Owner Maurice Beebe noted that it hasn’t rained a lot in the 20 years that North End has been at Sailfest, but he did recall the time a few years ago when the fireworks show was condensed into several minutes because of impending rain.
And in 2013, the fireworks were barely visible because of heavy fog, which Western Connecticut State University meteorologist Gary Lessor said is not a threat this year.
Lessor said that any fog would be before 9 a.m. on Saturday. There’s a chance of scattered showers in the morning, he said, but morning clouds are expected to give way to partly sunny skies.
The forecast for New London is hot and humid. Lessor said the humidity will drop Saturday night.
“Sunday will be a gorgeous day — bright sunshine, comfortable humidity and high temperatures in the upper 70s to near 80,” he said.