It was a fun event that raised more than $5,000 to aid the families of those lost when the fishing vessel Lily Jean sank in January.
People packed Pavilion Beach in front of the Beauport Hotel and the Park at Fort Point on Saturday to watch the contestants in the 2026 Lobster Crate Race hosted by the Gloucester Police Department’s Community Impact Unit.
The event raised $5,350 for the Fishing Vessel Lily Jean Fund.
The race, which started in 2022, is the brainchild of Community Impact Unit Officer Joe Parady. The event is a fundraiser with a new recipient each year, with participants age 8 and up donating an entry fee of $20 to race. This year’s proceeds are going to Lily Jean Fund.
The event, emceed by Anthony Saputo, featured food trucks on land, and spectator boats on the water, with a contest for the best decorated boat.
This year, more than 140 youngsters took part, Parady said.
Here are the division winners, in no particular order: Mae Nolan, Neo Brancaleone, Alexa Benjamin, Max Fountain, Chiara Chambers and Lenny Taormina.
Best costume went to Lyla Cooney and Joseph Mitchell.
Best decorated boat honors went to Sal Balsassano and Enzo DiMiao of Coast Construction about Reel Chaos, followed by Matt Cooney on the Lyla Rose, and Vito Giagalone in the “mermaid boat.”
The Fishing Vessel Lily Jean Fund was started by the Gloucester Fishing Community Preservation Fund which is accepting tax-deductible donations. All contributions to the FV Lily Jean Fund will be distributed equally among the seven families of the lost crew: Capt. Accursio “Gus” Sanfilippo, Paul Beal and son Paul Beal Jr., John Rousanidis, Freeman Short, Sean Therrien and Jada Samitt.
Anyone who wants to contribute to Fishing Vessel Lily Jean Fund can do so in the following ways:
— Online: Visit FVLilyJeanFund.org to make donations via credit or debit card, PayPal or Venmo. To maximize impact, donors are asked to increase their donation by one dollar because of processing fees.
— Checks: Checks can be made out to Gloucester Fishing Community Preservation Fund or GFCPF, with “Lily Jean Fund” on the memo line, and be mailed to Gloucester Fishing Community Preservation Fund c/o Cape Ann Savings Bank, 109 Main St., Gloucester, MA 01930.
— In person: Donations may also be made at any Cape Ann Savings Bank or any Bank Gloucester location.