STATE

Destin celebrates Blessing of the Fleet

The 62nd annual ceremony has become a time-honored tradition

Tina Harbuck
tharbuck@thedestinlog.com
Clergy bless the Outta Line and Capt. Trey Windes as they participate in the 62nd annual Blessing of the Fleet in Destin on Thursday. [TINA HARBUCK/GATEHOUSE MEDIA FLORIDA]

DESTIN — For more than six decades, the community’s fishing fleet has followed in the footsteps of those who have gone before.

And Thursday was no different as 134 boats participated in the 62nd annual Blessing of the Fleet.

“The Blessing of the Fleet is a day when we put the rods and reels up and gather together as a family to receive prayer for safety and abundance,” Capt. Preston Mueller of the Home Grown said.

“It’s important that we keep these time-honored traditions, and it makes me happy to see such great participation,” Mueller said.

For Capt. Matthew Pearson, the blessing was something he’s been looking forward to for quite some time.

“It was something I always looked forward to doing when I got my own boat,” Pearson said.

Pearson bought his first boat, Vengeance, this past year, and Thursday was his first time to pass through the blessing as the captain of his own vessel.

“It meant a lot to be a part of such a big tradition in Destin,” he said.

“I had my kids and family on the boat … and for them to see it was probably the biggest thing for me.

“I really take it to heart. We need all the blessings we can get,” Pearson added.

The Blessing of the Fleet started more than a half century ago with just a handful of boats. Today, the blessing includes water taxis, scuba boats, charter boats and pirate ships.

“We’re carrying on a tradition that started back in 1958,” said the Rev. Caleb Miller of Immanuel Anglican Church, who leads the service from under a tent each year.

Miller said the original idea behind the blessing was a “desire to bless the people who make their living on the seas. I think it’s something very biblical … to pray for the city in which you live.”

Before the blessing of the boats, more than 100 people gathered under the tent at the Fishing Fleet Marina for a worship service led by Miller.

Miller recognized William Frank Davis and Dale Allen, who have served as the commodores for the Blessing of the Fleet for more than 50 years.

After singing and a personal testimony from local Capt. Dave Dewberry of Pelican Charters, the Rev. Mike Hesse of Immanuel Anglican delivered a brief sermon that encouraged people to be a bold witness.

The clergy spoke blessings over individual captains and families before they walked to the docks for the boat blessings. A feast and time of fellowship followed under the tent.