I was saddened to learn just today that the MIJOY 747, the 85-foot fishing boat whose homeport has been the Niantic River for over 70 years, has been sold to a fishing company in Florida. Now, although the MIJOY has been considered ORION’s nemesis and somewhat of a curse over the years (read all about the various incidents here, here, and here), MIJOY has been a fixture in the Niantic and Waterford community certainly for all my life and for several prior generations, and I’m rather stunned she’s gone and won’t return.
The long-time captain of the vessel, Paul Brockett, died last April from the Coronavirus at the age of 79, and it seems that their chief mechanic left the boat. With those hardships, plus passenger limitations necessitated by the Coronavirus, it was decided to sell the boat, and MIJOY - now under a new name - has joined the Viking fishing fleet in Tarpon Springs, Florida. More details may be found here. There are no details as of yet if any other charter fishing company will occupy the MIJOY’s old berth in between the Niantic highway and railroad bridges.
Farewell, MIJOY 747 - believe it or not, ORION will miss you.
ORION motoring by MIJOY 747.