Boating season opens with Blessing of the Boats

The Canyon Lake Yacht Club invites all Canyon Lake registered boats to participate in the Canyon Lake Opening Day of Boating Season and Blessing of the Boats ceremony next weekend.

Yacht Club Commodore Dennis Reams of the Yacht Club will preside over the April 17 event.

Boats are to assemble at 1:30 p.m. at the cove on the boat tunnel’s main lakeside to East Bay. Yacht Club boats will provide instructions and escort the Blessing and Opening Day ceremony ships, which begins at 2:00 p.m.

During last year’s first Blessing of the Boats and the opening of boating season in Canyon Lake was one of the few events that were safe during COVID-19 restrictions. Boats line up for a blessing by Canyon Lake Community Church Pastor Pete Van Dyke last year. Pastor Pete will once again offer the blessings on the boats next weekend. Photos by Ron Wilbur

After the brief ceremony, captains will form their boats into a single-line parade following the Yacht Club lead boat. The flotilla will then pass close to the Canyon Lake Lodge guest dock, where a benediction will be offered to each craft and crew for a safe and fun boating season by Canyon Lake Community Church Pastor Pete Van Dyke.

The Yacht Club flagship boat will then lead participant boats on a slow parade around the Main Lake, finishing in Catfish Cove for a tie-up celebration.

Any boat with current Canyon Lake boat registration can participate. This is a festive event, so participating boats are invited to dress up their boats with ribbons, flags and flowers to keep with the tradition of boat and fleet blessing events. All Canyon Lake residents and guests are invited to view the blessing and boat parade. Great viewing areas include the beach at Holiday Harbor and the Lodge grounds by the pool which overlook the marina.