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BLESSING OF THE FLEET ON THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER AT PORTAGE DES SIOUX MISSOURI

If you would like to be an active part of this longtime tradition feel free to contact the Blessing of the Fleet President Rick Flier via email: [email protected]

Click HERE for a list of past Blessing of the Fleet themes.

Directions:

From the St. Charles area take Highway 94 North about 12.5 miles north of Interstate 370 to Highway J.

From North St. Louis County and Illinois take Highway 94 about 9 miles West from Highway 67 to Highway J.

For GPS directions use the address: 1670 Riverview Drive, Portage des Sioux, MO 63373

Past Wiunners of the Blessing of the Fleet Boat Parade:

Click on thumbnail to view / download larger version of picture.

2017 Winners of Judges Choice awards
2017 Con Trios Yacht Club Member Boat Award

2016 Winners, theme was "Your Favorite Sport"
Click on thumbnail to view / download larger pic.

Judges Choice Winner, "The Shark"
Judges Choice Winner, "Sea Grace"
Judge Choice Winner, black Crownline (no name)
Judges Choice Winner, "Bazinga"
Judges Choice Winner, "River Rats"
Con Trios Yacht Club Winner, "Good Life"
St. Louis Boat & Sportshow Winner, Duck Dynasty theme

2015 Winners

I passed out and had to go to the hospital as the parade ended so neither I nor Maureen were on site for the awards.
Am attempting to obtain good pictures of the boats and crews, please bear with me. Darryll Weil

2015 Cruiser - Sea Grace (no picture yet)
Sailboat - Saint Somewhere (no picture yet)	Sailboat - Saint Somewhere (no crew picture yet)
Houseboat - It's About Time (no picture yet)	Houseboat - It's About Time (no crew picture yet)
Willpower also won the Con Trios Yacht Club award.	2015 Judge Choice (no crew picture yet) Willpower also won the Con Trios Yacht Club award.

2013 Winners
Click on a picture to see a larger version

Cruiser "The Shark"	Cruiser Crew "The Shark"
Houseboat "Sea Hag"
Pontoon Boat "Attack of the Tooner Sharks"	Pontoon Crew "Attack of the Tooner Sharks"
Runabout
Sailboat "Tranquility Base"
Judges Choice "Oh Yeah"
Judges Choice "Ora Lea"
Judges Choice "Sound of Pleasure"	Judges Choice Crew "Sound of Pleasure"
Con Trios Yacht Club Member "The Shark"	Con Trios Yacht Club Member Crew "The Shark"

2012 Winners
Click on a picture to see a larger version.

Cruiser - "Storm Treasure"	Captain Royce LaMarr & crew
Runabout - "The Shark"	Captain Greg Colletta & crew
Houseboat - "Sea Hag"	Captain Jay Adams & crew (photo not available)
Pontoon	Captain Brian Kickline
Sailboat - "Saint Somewhere"	Captain Tyler Mitchell & crew
After the Blessing of the Fleet awards were given it was brought to our attention that one of the boats may have been misclassified as the side profile appeared to be one type of vessel but when the pictures were looked at it should have been in a different category. The other boat in that category will be recognized with an award and is congratulated on their decorating effort. We will try to avoid this in the future even if it means having to readjust the categories. The Blessing of the Fleet committee Thanks all participants and is already looking forward to next year. Congratulations to A. J. and Toni Grapenthin and the crew of "Good Problems"! Great Job decorating guys.
Runabout - "Good Problems"	Captain A. J. Grapenthin & crew

2011 Winners
Click on a picture to see a larger version.

Cruiser Category	Storm Treasure
Houseboat Category	Sandy M
Pontoon Category	Ginger Bell
Runabout Category	The Shark
Sailboat Category	Gypsy Rose II
Con Trios Yacht Club	Storm Treasure

2010 Winners
Click on a picture to see a larger version.
Thanks to Pat Reid of Crystal Photography for the pictures.
To see all the pictures Pat took click HERE.

Cruiser category Winner
Houseboat category Winner and Best In Show Winner
Pontoon category Winner
Runabout category Winner
Sailboat category Winner
Con Trios Yacht Club Winner

2009 Winners:

Theme: "Luau"

Best Decorated Cruiser: "Storm Treasure" Royce and Gayle LaMarr

Best Decorated Houseboat: "Aquatraz" Dave and Karen Wilmouth

Best Decorated Sailboat: "Insatiable" Harry Stoner

Best Decorated Pontoon: "June" June Polster

Best Decorated Runabout: "Summertime" John Spraul

Best Decoarated Upstream Boat: "Aquatraz" Dave and Karen Wilmouth

2008 Winners:

Theme: "Margaritaville"

The Best Decorated Cruiser award was "Night-N-Gale"

The Best Decorated Houseboat was "Aquatraz"

The Best Decorated Sailboat was the "Kontaloa"

Best Decorated Pontoon Boat was "Misbehavior"

The Best Decorated Runabout had no name

Best Decorated Con Trios Yacht Club member boat was "Sound of Pleasure"

2007 Winners: 

Theme:  Toast Our Golden Anniversary!

Acrylic Commemorative Trophies Provided by Blessing of the Fleet, Inc.

 FIVE CATEGORIES AWARDED FOR BEST DECORATED TO THE THEME

CRUISER CATEGORY: Edward and Rosemary Bialecke, “GRIFFIN”

  HOUSEBOAT CATEGORY: Alan Deutschmann, “SOUND OF PLEASURE”

   RUNABOUT CATEGORY: Glen and Darlene Hartman, “DARLENE”

  SAILBOAT CATEGORY: Don and Mary Ellen Morrison, “RAGTIME”

  PONTOON/DECKBOAT: Alan Bull, “ODYSSEY”

 AWARDS BASED ON BEST DECORATED TO THE YEAR’S SELECTED THEME
AS JUDGED BY THIS YEARS PANEL OF BLESSING OF THE FEET JUDGES.

  THE GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION JUDGES:
James A. Svoboda, Past Commodore, Con Trios Yacht Club
Mark D. Warner, Mayor, Portage Des Sioux, MO
Harry T. Bussmann, III, Our Lady of the Rivers Shrine Committee

 THREE CASH AWARD PRIZES
DONATED BY “SHOW ME THE MISSISSIPPI”

 BEST OVERALL ENTRY IN SHOW WINNER – Check in the Amount of $500.00

 FIRST PLACE PRESENTED TO:  Alan Deutschmann, “Sound of Pleasure”

 SECOND PLACE – CHECK IN THE AMOUNT OF $300.00

 PRESENTED TO: Tom and Mary Lou Smith, “FarNeite II”

THIRD PLACE – CHECK IN THE AMOUNT OF $ 200.00

 PRESENTED TO:  Owners Unknown, “Playen II”

 Judges for Show Me the Mississippi – Cash Awards – Were Linda Sanchez, President of Show Me the Mississippi and Several Members Selected from this years “Show Me”, Membership.

  SPECIAL CORPORATE SPONSORED AWARDS
 (These Awards were Judged by and Sponsored by Each Respective Company Owner and or their Representative.)

SEA RAY WINNER – Best Decorated Sea Ray
 Sponsored By:  MarineMax, St Charles, MO

 Winners:  Dee Berkley, “Some Day Came”, 26’ Sea Ray Sundancer

 GIBSON HOUSEBOAT WINNER – Best Decorated Gibson Houseboat 
Sponsored by Wahoo Sales and Service, St. Charles, MO 

Winners:  Tom and Nancy Meyers, “Sparky”

 REGAL – Best Decorated Regal 
Sponsored by Dan’s Boats, St. Peters, MO 

Winners:  Jason and Louise Haldiman, "We-Z-Goin’ Wild”

  CON TRIOS YACHT CLUB WINNER

Best Decorated CTYC Member Entry in Parade :  Alan Deutschmann, “Sound of Pleasure”

Picture Galleries from previous years, all albums will open in a new window.

2019 Blessing of the Fleet photos by Maureen and Darryll

2019 Benefit for the Blessing of the Fleet at Alton Marina, photos by Maureen Weil

2018 Blessing of the Fleet / Parade of Boats photos by Maureen and Darryll Weil

2017 Blessing of the Fleet / Parade of Boats photos by Maureen Weil

2017 Benefit / Fundraiser / Pool Party at Alton Marina

2016 Blessing photos by Maureen Weil

2016 Blessing photos by Lisa Hickey

2016 Blessing of the Fleet yard signs

2016 Benefit for the Blessing photos by Lisa Hickey

2016 Benefit for the Blessing photos by Maureen Weil

2015 Blessing of the Fleet pictures on www.RiverBills.com

2015 Blessing of the Fleet / Parade of Boats pictures by Maureen Weil

2015 Blessing of the Fleet / Parade of Boats pictues by RiverBills.com

Blast from the Past! Click here for some pics and documents from the 2001 Blessing Parade courtesy of Rita English.

Blessing of the Fleet / Parade of Boats pictures by Lisa Hickey and Maureen

Benefit for the Blessing of the Fleet 2014 photos by Lisa Hickey

Some random pictures of the volunteers at the 2013 Blessing of the Fleet

Hand made model of the Blessing of the Fleet by Glenn Folkerts

2013 Blessing of the Fleet photos by Sherry Lorance

2013 Blessing of the Fleet photos by Bob White

2013 Blessing of the Fleet photos by Lisa Hickey

2013 Blessing of the Fleet photos by Bob White, Tom Stolze and Maureen

2013 Benefit photos by Lisa Hickey

2013 Benefit photos by Maureen and video by Mary Beth

2012 Blessing of the Fleet photos by Maureen

2012 Benefit for the Blessing of the Fleet at The Boathouse

2011 Blessing of the Fleet aerial pictures courtesy of Mike and Sherri Stanczak

2011 Blessing of the Fleet photos by Tom Stolze

2011 Pictures by Maureen aboard the Follow Me boat "Scoundrel"

2010 Pictures by Lisa Hickey aboard the "Texas Lady"

2010 Pictures by Sharon from the Follow Me boat "Scoundrel"

2010 pictures by Pat Reid of Crystal Photography

"Gypsy Rose" Pirate Ship

Historical Photos Courtesy of Rick Estes

2008 photos courtesy of Darryll Weil

2007 photos courtesy of Mike and Sherri Stanczak

2007 photos courtesy of Lynn Tighe

2007 photos courtesy of Darryll and Maureen

2006 photos courtesy of Tim and Lynn Tighe

2005 photos courtesy of Tim and Lynn Tighe

2004 photos courtesy of Darryll Weil

2004 photos courtesy of Tim and Lynn Tighe

2003 photos courtesy of Tim and Lynn Tighe

Past Blessing of the Fleet themes:

BLESSING OF THE FLEET ON THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER AT PORTAGE DES SIOUX MISSOURI

HISTORY OF THE BLESSING OF THE FLEET, INC.

The Blessing of the Fleet, Inc. is responsible for organizing an annual event on the river rich in tradition, The Blessing of the Fleet and Parade of Boats. This event is held on a mid-summer afternoon on the Mississippi River between Mel Price Lock and Dam in Alton, Illinois and the Winfield Lock and Dam, Missouri.

The Shrine of Our Lady of the Rivers in Portage des Sioux is the actual site of the ceremony and gets her name from the fact that three major rivers - the Illinois, the Missouri and the Mississippi - all meet within a few miles of the statue. The first pleasure Boat Blessing materialized as a result of a flood that threatened Portage des Sioux in the early 1950’s. The towns’ parish, headed by Rev. Edward Schlattmann, prayed together to the Virgin Mary for the town of Portage des Sioux to be spared from the perils of the raising waters. They together coined a name for the Virgin Mary, Our Lady of the Rivers. As history records, the flooding waters parted and traveled just above and below the river town without entering it. To pay tribute to their Lady, the town people and parishioners, Schlattmann and local businessmen and local boatmen formulated plans for the first religious fiberglass statue.

Eventually the 25’ Statue of Our Lady of the Rivers and a 25’ Base were erected at the site of Portage des Sioux. It remains today as the fourth tallest statue of Mary in the world. Over the years it has served as a navigation aid for the area and the podium from which the annual Blessing of the Fleet takes place. As each vessel approaches the base of the Shrine and slows to idle speed a blessing is bestowed as they pass imploring heaven to protect and bless them in these waters. This tradition has proven to be the highlight of the areas boating season and each year attracts hundreds of participating decorated pleasure craft, as well as, spectators to the area. Together they display an exquisitely executed celebration of the season, exhibiting a long inspired passion for boating and relating knowledge of history.

Participants compete for awards in specific categories by decorating to a designated theme for each year and are invited to gather following the parade and blessing for a fun and festive awards ceremony held at a local area marina.

The Blessing of the Fleet works in conjunction with area marinas, harbors, various related area businesses, as well as civic and local organizations and has the cooperation of the Orchard Farm Fire Protection District, Rivers Point Fire Protection District, U.S. Coast Guard and U. S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, the U.S. Power Squadron, Missouri Water Patrol, and Our Lady of the Rivers Shrine Committee of Portage des Sioux, Mo.

To all past and present officers and committee members of the Blessing of the Fleet, Inc. who have dedicated their time and talents over the past sixty plus years to preserve and maintain this tradition, we are honored to congratulate you. To generations yet unborn, The Shrine and this Annual Tradition will together serve as a symbol of our generations appreciation of the nautical sensibility and natural beauty of this area where three rivers meet near the site of the Statue of Our Lady of the Rivers, Portage des Sioux.

Congratulations Blessing of the Fleet, Inc. on these Accomplishments