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A Spectacular Weekend!
(click on images for larger view)
If you didn't join us last weekend, you
really missed out.  The Daytona Beach Boat Club held our very first Annual "Blessing
of the Fleet". We had a total of 12 boats blessed at Halifax
Harbor Marina... Chaplain Rick Chandler stood out at the gas
dock, which was mysteriously "out of order" for the day
(just a bit coincidental don't you think?) and gave an
Invocation over his handheld radio prior to the blessing of each
boat. Our Captains, First Mates and guests waited patiently in
the south west basin area as each boat cruised up to the dock
one by one to be blessed by the Chaplain. After being blessed,
the boats headed for a leisurely cruise to Down The Hatch in
Ponce Inlet. As the last boat headed out, Commodore Wayne
Bowden was thoughtful enough to realize the Chaplain forgot to
bless his own boat, and he said the blessing for "Yes Deer". Thanks Commodore, we appreciate it! Every boat that
participated will receive a special certificate from the
Chaplain at the next meeting. In line with the Daytona Beach
Boat Club's desire to give back to our community, next year we
will open up the Blessing of the Fleet to all boats.
 Lunch
at Down the Hatch proved to be as much fun as ever, with many
guests joining us (mostly from Doug & Teri Willis' family!)
 Bill Fricke arrived with his "unblessed" boat, and so (with
shirt off) Bill received an impromptu blessing for "Ashcraft".
That brought our total of blessed boats to 13.
 After
lunch we all headed to Disappearing Island for a very special
occasion, the christening of sweet baby Morgan, daughter of Doug
and Teri Willis. Family and friends gathered away
from the crowd around a
small table draped with white towel, topped with a cross and golden chalice filled with
water. The breeze was blowing just enough to keep us
comfortable. Chaplain Rick explained to Doug and Teri their Christian
duty as Morgan's parents until she was old enough to make her
own choices, and they agreed to uphold their
 vows. Kerry and
Justine Houghton were then instructed as to their duty as God
Parents, and they too agreed to uphold their vows. Morgan was
baptized with a drop of Holy Water from Jerusalem. (and a few
drops from Fawn's water bottle!) The Christening ended with a
beautiful prayer. After the Christening, guests left and a few
boats remained to relax and enjoy the island.
 Late afternoon found us about to be overtaken
by a giant thunderstorm, and in about 5 minutes every boat at
the island pulled out and left for home (accept for a few of us
crazy kids who anchored in Rock Creek until the storm blew
over!)  Yes Deer, Wife's Choice and Dance stayed over night, and
then met up at the island Sunday morning. It was another
beautiful day, and we began our leisure trip home around 12:00
pm.
 All in all, it was a perfectly lovely
weekend. Thank you to everyone who joined us for this special
weekend of firsts, we hope we will continue to have many more
this year!
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