PHYLLIS BATOR

As "Taps" was played in memory of past members and friends, they were saluted.

PHYLLIS BATOR

Each boat that passed the review stand was saluted by L-R: Stuart Curtis, Day Cruise Captain; M.A. Kline, Rear Commodore; Dean Heard, Commodore; Paul Sullivan, Vice Commodore; Jim Ferry, Captain Extended Cruise Captain. Not in the photograph is Chaplain Neil Hunt.

PHYLLIS BATOR

The parade of boats started at the tower and headed to the Yacht Club by turning around, and as they passed the yardarm, each individual skipper announced the name of the vessel and its occupants. Each vessel was saluted as they passed the review stand while the Strummers played “Anchors Aweigh.” After passing the review stand, the boats went down the Chestnut Waterway and docked.

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The weather couldn’t have been more beautiful last Friday when the Marco Island Yacht Club held their annual Blessing of the Fleet.

At 10:30 a.m., boats that ranged from the small, medium and large including sail boats, congregated in Factory Bay near the east end by the river. Commodore Dean Heard welcomed everyone and announced a special guest, Commodore Charles W. Gaillard, from the Naples Yacht Club.

The Marco Island Strummers played the National Anthem, and Chaplain Neil Hunt gave the blessing. Rev. Hunt asked for a moment of silence in memory of members and friends who passed away last year. A member of the Strummers played “Taps.”

The beginning of the parade of boats started with a cannon firing. Vice Commodore Paul Sullivan announced, “Please call in the fleet.”

For all the boaters to hear as well as the audience, VHF Channels 68, 69 and 71 were used for communications and sequencing inside the individual fleets. At 11 a.m. all boats switched to VHF Channel 78.

The Extended Cruise Fleet was led by Jim Ferry, Day Cruise Fleet by Stuart Curtis, and Sailing Fleet by Ray Yerich. The parade of boats started at the tower and headed to the Yacht Club by turning around, and as they passed the yardarm, each individual skipper announced the name of the vessel and its occupants. Each vessel was saluted as they passed the review stand while the Strummers played “Anchors Aweigh.” After passing the review stand, the boats went down the Chestnut Waterway and docked.

It was an impressive sight to see so many boats, all sizes, and some dressed. People from the boats and spectators waved at each other as the boats passed the yardarm.

The Marco Island Yacht Club has been a member of the Florida Council of Yacht Clubs for the past three years, which is the most prestigious of yacht clubs in the state of Florida.

According to Commodore Heard, the Blessing of the Fleet is an annual event and a big tradition in yacht clubs.

“It’s supposed to be sort of a religious insurance policy for your boat and your crew and any guests you may have on the boat. It’s kind of a ‘good luck wish’ for the next year. We also always recognize members who have passed on,” Heard stated. “We are relatively new at this, and we’re working on it to make it better. Clergy from all the churches are given an Honorary Membership. Chaplain Hunt is an Honorary Member.”

He continued, “We were supposed to have 27 boats, but two had mechanical problems, and one went aground, so 23 boats were represented.”

Heard explained the MICKYS Program that led the procession through the waterway. MICKYS is the acronym for Marco Island City Kids Youth Sailing Program.

“We’re a boating community and it teaches kids how to act around water both from an etiquette standpoint and a safety standpoint in addition to how to handle a boat. We think it’s a very character building program,” Heard explained. “We hold a silent auction and take the money to buy new boats or repair boats. It’s a lively program run in the summer for kids from 8 to 15 years of age. The cost is rather inexpensive at $85.”

The course is run for five consecutive days from 8:30 a.m. to noon. The City runs the program but the MIYC are patrons of the program which they are very proud of.

The following boats participated:

The Day Fleet: McGinn’s Fin, Louise Anne, Glory be II, Schools Out, and Gypsea Lyn. The Extended Fleet: Current Obsession, Tigerss, Sea Date, Andiamo, Our Lady, Tu Eres el Viento, Terrific, Therapy III, RSM Bluewater, Nauti Buoy, Dancing Bear, Tivoli, NightHawk, Marahatha, Duma’s Hideaway and My Turn. The Sailing Fleet: Barefoot Contessa, Hummingbird and TriPower.

Participants and spectators were invited to lunch in the Court Yard, Burgee Bar and Verandas, with a casual, picnic-style lunch. The entire ceremony lasted approximately one hour.