by Debbie Tuma • photos by Ken Giustino
As one of the major fishing capitals, Montauk has long been known for its annual Blessing of the Fleet event, taking place each June. This year was very special, with about 150 boats participating in this big 70th Blessing event. And they had a glorious day of warm, sunny weather, to parade through the Montauk Harbor and get blessed by the clergy at the East Hampton Town Dock.
This event is put on by the Montauk Boatmen and Captain’s Association, and this year’s Fleet Director, Capt. Frank Braddick of the ‘Hurry Up’ charter boat, stepped down after about 20 years, to be replaced by Capt. Ken Hejducek of the charter boat ‘My Joyce.’
Once again, Pastor Bill Hoffman of the Montauk Community Church and Pastor Liam McDonald of the St. Theresa Roman Catholic Church were standing aboard the Viking Starship, lifting their hands to bless the array of boats passing by. They were the only clergy that could make it this year, blessing every kind of boat from skiffs to yachts. The long procession included charter and commercial fishing boats, sailboats and catamarans, Cigarette boats, marine patrol boats, and even Billy Joel’s Downeaster boat, which has appeared quite often at the Blessing.
The Viking Starship also took out the families of the men and women who worked on or near the water, who passed away in the last year. And the beautiful flowered wreaths that the families threw in the water. This year, the deceased were Michael Cook, William Duvchaltev, Capt. Paul Forsberg, Jake Heath, Larry Keller, Jr., Michael Migliaccio, Charlie Morricci, Capt. John Nolan, Arnold Leo, Chris Ramos, Capt Artie Surray, Capt. Bob Weaver, Emmett Gosman, Greg (Klondike) Biel and Mike Bock, Sr.
All the boats sailed out to the Bell Buoy, and circled around the Viking Starship, to pay homage to all these people, while they played TAPS as the wreaths were tossed to the sea. This is always a very moving ceremony. Then they all tooted their horns and steamed back to the docks, to celebrate the start of a new Montauk fishing season!
