Blessing of the Fleet 2007 Registration

Blessing of the Fleet and Decorated Boat Parade

Saturday, May 19, 2007, beginning at 1:00PM
(Later, a Pirate Party, following the Parade)

Registration Information

Registration Begins May 12:
Registration for the Blessing of the Fleet Ceremony and Boat Parade begins Saturday, May 12, at the Bass Pro Shop, Garland. Go to the Customer Service desk. If you register for the event between May 12 and May 18, at Bass Pro, you may enter a drawing for one $50, and two $25 gift certificates for the Islamorada Fish Company Restaurant. Drawing will take place at the party, after the parade.
If you wait till event day, May 19, you must register at the 11:00AM Skipper's Meeting, by the pool at Bayview Marina. (Event-day registrants will not be entered in the Islamorada drawing.)

Non-member Participants:
Anyone may join our 'Blessing' ceremony at Bayview Marina, and have their boat blessed. No membership is required. We ask that you register so that we can issue you numbers (so the chaplain can identify your boat), give you instructions, etc.
If you are not a BBC member, and additionally wish to compete in the judging and awards for decorated boats, and attend the after-party, you may join as a one-day member, for $10. This covers the ceremony and parade, eligibility for awards, and admission to the 'Pirate Party', afterwards.
Register for the event at Bass Pro (through May 18), or at the Skipper's Meeting (May 19, 11:00AM). Then, optionally, fill out and turn in the Membership Form, with $10, at the Skipper's Meeting or Pirate Party, on May 19. If you later decide to join for the year, the $10 can be applied to the annual dues.

"I Want My Boat Blessed, But I Can't Join the Ceremonial Parade"
If your boat is unable to join the 'Blessing' procession this year, you may still have it blessed. Fill out the appropriate information on the Registration Form, and turn it in at Bass Pro, or at the Skipper's Meeting at Bayview Marina. After the ceremony, the Chaplain will visit your boat in the slip and ask a blessing on it.

Download:

Blessing of the Fleet and Boat Parade Registration Form (MS Word)

Skipper's Instructions (MS Word)
and "Olde Tyme" Course Map

(First-Timer's Information link)

Event Flyer (opens in a new window)

Schedule (May 19):
11:00AM - Skipper's Meeting
11:00AM - 12:00 noon Late registration, pick-up numbers, instructions and map.
12:30PM - Boats head out and form up on lake.
1:00PM - Boats begin to proceed slowly through Bayview Marina, north to south, past the back of Weekends Restaurant.
Boats exit marina, and decorated boats parade on to other points. Other boats may re-enter and dock.
4:00PM - Pirate Party by the pool begins.

Awards: Trophies and additional prizes will be awarded for three places, for Best Decorated, in each of the following categories: