Most vessels in the local fleet took part in the annual Blessing of the Fleet in perfect weather at Beachport on Sunday afternoon.
Earlier in the day, the fleet had checked their lobster pots on the first day of the second month of the 2023/24 lobster fishing season.
Catholic Parish priest Father Peter Swaans of the Millicent/Mount Gambier parish led the mid-afternoon service at the foreshore war memorial rotunda.
He was assisted by lay preacher Hazel Watson of St Matthews Uniting Church and by the Reverend Jean Housley who is the relieving minister of the Millicent/Penola Anglican Parish.
With a gathering of 200 looking on, prayers were offered for the safety of all seafarers.
The jumping off the jetty to retrieve the blessed cross followed the on-land service.
It was held at the first landing and witnessed by a large gathering on the jetty and in tinnies on the waters of Rivoli Bay.
As the jetty is in the midst of a multi-million-dollar upgrade, there was restricted access made available to the general public by the maintenance crews of contractors Maritime Constructions Pty Ltd.
Only two young females braved the cold water a year ago but there were six youngsters involved in seeking the blessed cross in 2023.
It was retrieved by Adelaide teenager Seb Fraser who is visiting family in Beachport for the school holidays.
The blessed cross will now by borne by one of the fishing fleet for the remainder of the season.
After the blessed cross was retrieved, the fishing boats’ skippers and their crews steamed past the jetty and received a blessing from Father Peter.
The annual Blessing of the Fleet ceremony dates back decades and is organised by the Beachport Professional Fishermen’s Association in conjunction with the churches of Beachport.
It was originally scheduled for the afternoon of September 30 to coincide with the thrice-yearly Beachport street market but this date clashed with the AFL grand final.
The Lions Club of Beachport and Rivoli Bay lent their chairs and public address sound system while the Beachport Primary School children and teachers displayed paintings of the fleet on the fence by the jetty.
