Boats receive blessing at Occoquan event

Cindy L Davis
Almost 100 boats made their way past U.S. Navy chaplains James Moran, left, and Russell Gunter, who bestowed a blessing upon the watercrafts during Sunday's third annual blessing of the fleet in Occoquan Bay.

By KEITH WALKER A pair of nesting Canada geese on shore watched as Lou Seelig piloted his 39-foot yacht “Thee Sea Legs” out of its slip at the Prince William Marina on Sunday on the way to the third annual Blessing of the Fleet in Occoquan Bay. The geese let out several honks as the boat slid out of the marina and headed to the Occoquan River, where Seelig and his wife, Jean, joined a pageant of boats, all on their way to the bay to receive their blessings. Jean Seelig, the yacht’s first mate, said the birds honk at them whenever they leave the marina. Most of the route from the marina to the bay — where the Occoquan and Potomac rivers meet — is a no-wake zone, so the procession of 85 boats kept a sedate pace that allowed the mariners to wave and talk to each other about what a fine day they had for a blessing. Yellow balloons anchored at the river’s surface marked the way to a flagship where U.S. Navy chaplains Russell Gunter and James Moran bestowed grace on each ship as it passed in front of them. The chaplains asked God to push aside any unfavorable winds and to bless each boat and all those aboard. The Seeligs said they felt good about the blessing. “Truthfully, I’m glad that the boat gets blessed. Boating teaches you a great respect for Mother Nature. I’d like to have her on my side,” Jean said. “I agree with Jean,” her husband said. Lou Seelig said the idea of a fleet blessing is an ancient one that originated with fishing boats. “It’s sort of a tradition that goes way, way, way back; the old fishing fleets that would go out for months at a time, and they would get blessed before they went out,” he said. In 1999, the Occoquan, Fairfax and Prince William yacht clubs decided to revive the tradition and teamed with the Occoquan River Maritime Association to hold that annual event. Kathi Kahoe, who received a blessing on board the “Suthna,” said the idea of a blessing makes her feel better on the water. “It makes you feel safer to know that somebody’s looking over you for the year. I think a lot of people feel that it’s a good way to start out the season,” Kahoe said. Sam Konrad of “Sam’s Escape” concurred. “It just sets the tone for the season,” Konrad said. Jackie Ostrom teased her husband, George Ostrom, the Maritime Association commodore, as they docked “Runaway III” after they received their blessing on the bay. “My captain can use all the help he can get,” she said. "She knows what my driving’s like,” George Ostrom added.