Begin a great Occoquan boating season with the May 10, 2003        11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Bring your boat and crew to share in this time-
honored seafaring tradition... ! dedicated to boating safety
! celebrating the new boating season Plan  now  to  “parade  dress”  your  boat  with  festive  flags  and  colors.
Invite family and friends to witness a chaplain’s solemn invocation of
blessing  and  safe  cruising  for  the  year  ahead  for  your  boat  and
crew. This  simple  ceremony  harks  back  to  ancient  times  when  fishermen
and other seafarers yearned for good fortune and safety at sea—with
priests invoking a blessing upon each vessel as it departed for sea.
Years ago, the Occoquan community sponsored an annual Blessing of the Fleet, and in
1999  the  tradition  was  re-instituted  by  the  yacht  clubs  of  the  Occoquan  and  the
Occoquan River Maritime Association. How does it work? The  Fairfax  County  fire  boat  will  lead  a  procession  of  boats  outbound  from  Prince
William  Marina  and  passing  the  chaplain’s  station  vessel  moored  at  the  Belmont  Bay
Harbor Marina fuel dock. Boats will continue outbound for a day of cruising as desired
or,   upon   safely   clearing   the   area,   may   return   to   their   respective   marinas.      The
procession  will  include  a  host  vessel  with  local  dignitaries  and  media  representatives
embarked. A detailed float plan and Notice to Mariners will be posted at local marinas and will be
distributed through yacht club newsletters and Internet websites. Plan now to take part! The Blessing of the Fleet—an Occoquan tradition—is sponsored and coordinated by the
Occoquan  River  Maritime  Association  (ORMA)  and  its  member  organizations,  with
support  from  the  U.S.  Coast  Guard  Auxiliary  and  Fairfax  and  Prince  William  County
public safety agencies. Questions? Contact ORMA Coordinator Chris Webster, WebsterCw@msn.com.