Fleet to be Blessed on Whitsunday
BISHOP of North Queensland, Bill Ray will conduct the 2010 Blessing of the Fleet service on Whitsunday May 23 at the Whitsunday Sailing Club in Airlie Beach
It will be 240 years since First Lieutenant James Cook named the Whitsunday Passage in 1770.
This year's service also marks 21 years since Father Keith Felgate started the annual Blessing of the Fleet in Airlie Beach.
The Blessing of the Fleet in Airlie Beach is held each year on Whitsunday, otherwise known as Pentecost Sunday.
A Blessing of the Fleet is part of the calendar of many seaside and fishing communities around the world.
Like Easter, Whitsunday or Pentecost Sunday is on different dates each year.
Cook and his crew sailed through the magnificent passage he named Whitsunday on his voyage of adventure and discovery.
In addition, Cook named Pentecost Island for the religious occasion.
Father Keith Felgate was inspired to conduct an annual blessing of the fleet here at Whitsunday in 1989.
"As we conduct the Blessing of the fleet on Whitsunday, my thoughts turn to Father Keith who in his retirement is no doubt also thinking of us," says co-founder Cap'n Dan Van Blarcom.
Community groups are invited to participate in the Blessing of the Fleet on the seafront lawn at the Whitsunday Sailing Club, Airlie Beach from 10am, May 23. The sail past of yachts is from 11 am from the sea wall.
For further information, contact the sailing club or call Cap'n Dan Van Blarcom on-4946 4131 MOB 0407 676 952.
