I'm just wondering if anyone performs a renaming ceremony anymore. I can understand the desire to have a christening. It's a celebration of owning a new boat. I'm probably like most people. I'm not superstitous, but I am mildly paranoid. I need all the good luck I can get. I've read Vigor's renaming ceremony. It sounds too Shakespearean for my tastes. Is there a more concise version that will still be acceptable to the Gods? Also, we would like to hold a christening ceremony. Does anyone have suggestions on how to do it? Should the boat be launched first? Do you have to break a bottle or just pour it on the deck? Thanks for the help.
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I am not superstitious...
I am not superstitious either, but I am not a risk taker either. It seems like cheap insurance and a great excuse for a party as the previous poster said. Luckily, Lola was unnamed when we purchased her. She is quite happy with her new identity. Ross in Tampa 1979 Oday 25 "Lola"
I am not superstitious either, but I am not a risk taker either. It seems like cheap insurance and a great excuse for a party as the previous poster said. Luckily, Lola was unnamed when we purchased her. She is quite happy with her new identity. Ross in Tampa 1979 Oday 25 "Lola"
I am crass! when I finish the rebuild on the boat
that I bought as Moriah I sanded off the old painted on name and painted the hull. Then a friend came over and painted on the new name. She don't look like the old girl so I decided not to remind her of her not so colorful past.
that I bought as Moriah I sanded off the old painted on name and painted the hull. Then a friend came over and painted on the new name. She don't look like the old girl so I decided not to remind her of her not so colorful past.
Unceremoniously...
I didn't have any ceremony. I think the physical torture of removing the old sunbaked-vinyl-and-painted name was more than anything the Gods could throw at me. I did partake of spirits while changing the name; a warm can of Miller Lite on a hot day. Does that count? Two years since and all is well. I think the Gods have had plenty of opportunities to redeem payment from me for breaking tradition, but so far so good. 8*) Like everyone else here said, great reason for a party. - Dave -
I didn't have any ceremony. I think the physical torture of removing the old sunbaked-vinyl-and-painted name was more than anything the Gods could throw at me. I did partake of spirits while changing the name; a warm can of Miller Lite on a hot day. Does that count? Two years since and all is well. I think the Gods have had plenty of opportunities to redeem payment from me for breaking tradition, but so far so good. 8*) Like everyone else here said, great reason for a party. - Dave -
Superstitious? Me?
I've inherited the names of all my previous boats -- except the previous one. I was getting ready to re-name that boat, a first for me. Then along came Hurricane Isabel and totalled the boat a few days before I could apply the new name. When I bought my current boat, it too, came with a name. I'm keeping that name....
I've inherited the names of all my previous boats -- except the previous one. I was getting ready to re-name that boat, a first for me. Then along came Hurricane Isabel and totalled the boat a few days before I could apply the new name. When I bought my current boat, it too, came with a name. I'm keeping that name....
I'm not superstitious or religious ...
and never pass an opportunity for a party. We renamed a previous boat and used the website recommended by Higgs. We splashed white wine on the bow (red wine stains) and toasted to the gods as suggested in the ceremony. We did this at the slip shortly after we launched. When we bought Dragonfly, we christened with Bailey Irish Cream in the slip. All has gone well with both boats. A note of caution...a friend wanted to break a bottle of champagne on the bow to christen his new boat. He hit the bottle on the toe rail several times. Dented the toe rail but didn't break the bottle. Fortunately he was pointing the bottle in a safe direction when he popped the cork...we never did find it! Have fun and enjoy your new boat. Mark
and never pass an opportunity for a party. We renamed a previous boat and used the website recommended by Higgs. We splashed white wine on the bow (red wine stains) and toasted to the gods as suggested in the ceremony. We did this at the slip shortly after we launched. When we bought Dragonfly, we christened with Bailey Irish Cream in the slip. All has gone well with both boats. A note of caution...a friend wanted to break a bottle of champagne on the bow to christen his new boat. He hit the bottle on the toe rail several times. Dented the toe rail but didn't break the bottle. Fortunately he was pointing the bottle in a safe direction when he popped the cork...we never did find it! Have fun and enjoy your new boat. Mark
We Considered Renaming Ours,
but when I read the denaming ceremony and discovered you had to pour out the champagne, I decided the current name wasn't so bad after all. ;-)
but when I read the denaming ceremony and discovered you had to pour out the champagne, I decided the current name wasn't so bad after all. ;-)
Changed the name on a 2000 Hunter
340 I bought last year. Did not get around to the renaming ceremony and on the 61st day it was struck by lightning while we were aboard and boat was totalled. We were (are) fine, soooo I won't be changing anymore boats names in this life. Mike
340 I bought last year. Did not get around to the renaming ceremony and on the 61st day it was struck by lightning while we were aboard and boat was totalled. We were (are) fine, soooo I won't be changing anymore boats names in this life. Mike
I plan on doing it but. . .
the PO wrote the boat's name on EVERYTHING! Every book/pamphlet/document, life jacket, hose, cushion, safety item, spare, batten...well, you get the picture. and I simply hate the name (I can't even bring myself to call my boat by her name). But I fully intend to go through some sort of ceremony. No sense getting ol' King Neptune's knickers in a twist. Besides, like NYSail says, it's a great excuse for a party!
the PO wrote the boat's name on EVERYTHING! Every book/pamphlet/document, life jacket, hose, cushion, safety item, spare, batten...well, you get the picture. and I simply hate the name (I can't even bring myself to call my boat by her name). But I fully intend to go through some sort of ceremony. No sense getting ol' King Neptune's knickers in a twist. Besides, like NYSail says, it's a great excuse for a party!
We changed 2 of ours....
We kept the name of the first boa because we liked it. The first time we renamed one we used a ceremony similar to the one linked below. It was just us and we poured a little champagne on the bow and drank the rest. We had good luck with that boat (same model as Warren's current boat and it survived Isabel without a scratch). Our second re-naming ceremony was much more elaborate. Our sailing club has 2 "Masta-Namas" who are qualified to preside over the renaming ceremony. It was done at a club sponsored raft-up and was a lot of fun. I couldn't begin to go into all of the details but we spilled red wine (to signify blood) on the deck at the bow (it won't stain if you flush it off promptly and soft scrub will get it off if it does). We poured some red into the sea to appease Neptune the god of the sea and tossed some into the wind to appease Aeolus, the god if the 4 winds. We poured sea water on the bow because ancient tradition was to scuttle the boat, raise her and then rename her and we had the option to spill (?) a virgin's urine on deck but my daughter declined to supply any (some ancient vessels were covered in leather and urine was used to tighen it up). All the while we responded to questions from the Masta-Nama in the prescribed format, recited certain statements and requests to be taken under the protection of the appropriate gods. The Masta-Nama recited various poems and pleas for protection at different parts of the ceremony. All of the ceremony attendees were asked to respond at various parts of the ceremony. There were a lot of people at this ceremonmy, everyone had a great time and.....so far....so good! Tom s/v Orion's Child
We kept the name of the first boa because we liked it. The first time we renamed one we used a ceremony similar to the one linked below. It was just us and we poured a little champagne on the bow and drank the rest. We had good luck with that boat (same model as Warren's current boat and it survived Isabel without a scratch). Our second re-naming ceremony was much more elaborate. Our sailing club has 2 "Masta-Namas" who are qualified to preside over the renaming ceremony. It was done at a club sponsored raft-up and was a lot of fun. I couldn't begin to go into all of the details but we spilled red wine (to signify blood) on the deck at the bow (it won't stain if you flush it off promptly and soft scrub will get it off if it does). We poured some red into the sea to appease Neptune the god of the sea and tossed some into the wind to appease Aeolus, the god if the 4 winds. We poured sea water on the bow because ancient tradition was to scuttle the boat, raise her and then rename her and we had the option to spill (?) a virgin's urine on deck but my daughter declined to supply any (some ancient vessels were covered in leather and urine was used to tighen it up). All the while we responded to questions from the Masta-Nama in the prescribed format, recited certain statements and requests to be taken under the protection of the appropriate gods. The Masta-Nama recited various poems and pleas for protection at different parts of the ceremony. All of the ceremony attendees were asked to respond at various parts of the ceremony. There were a lot of people at this ceremonmy, everyone had a great time and.....so far....so good! Tom s/v Orion's Child
Abe, how do you know
that we don't believe in God? God has nothing to do with boat naming (at least not to my knowledge, He may differ) and am not sure how He got mixed up in this thread.
that we don't believe in God? God has nothing to do with boat naming (at least not to my knowledge, He may differ) and am not sure how He got mixed up in this thread.
posted with some trepidation
I got slammed on this once before on this forum, so let me try to do this as carefully as I can ... here's a naming alternative that represents another world view shared by many sailors out there. You can pray it over your boat and do anything you like with the champaign. Tom Monroe Carlyle Lake From the Navy Hymn Eternal Father, strong to save, Whose arm hath bound the restless wave, Who biddest the mighty ocean deep Its own appointed limits keep; Oh, hear us when we cry to Thee, For those in peril on the sea! O Father, King of earth and sea, We dedicate this ship to Thee. In faith we send her on her way; In faith to Thee we humbly pray: O hear from heaven our sailor’s cry And watch and guard her from on high!
I got slammed on this once before on this forum, so let me try to do this as carefully as I can ... here's a naming alternative that represents another world view shared by many sailors out there. You can pray it over your boat and do anything you like with the champaign. Tom Monroe Carlyle Lake From the Navy Hymn Eternal Father, strong to save, Whose arm hath bound the restless wave, Who biddest the mighty ocean deep Its own appointed limits keep; Oh, hear us when we cry to Thee, For those in peril on the sea! O Father, King of earth and sea, We dedicate this ship to Thee. In faith we send her on her way; In faith to Thee we humbly pray: O hear from heaven our sailor’s cry And watch and guard her from on high!
Nice
That's a great poem. I may put that on the bulkhead, it certainly beats "a bad day sailing is better that a good day at work" or similar hideous cliche
That's a great poem. I may put that on the bulkhead, it certainly beats "a bad day sailing is better that a good day at work" or similar hideous cliche
look on the web
Just key in'boat renaming ceremony' and youb will have plenty of reading to do. The ritual usually includes de-naming and re-naming, which in most cases are done one right after the other. Some sites include the history behind renaming ceremonies which include both Greek and Roman (different gods). Also note that the traditional drink was beer or wine and not champagne. These ceremonies date back a thousand or more years before Champagne was inventred. Its a fun thing to do and as others have said......great excuse for a party.
Just key in'boat renaming ceremony' and youb will have plenty of reading to do. The ritual usually includes de-naming and re-naming, which in most cases are done one right after the other. Some sites include the history behind renaming ceremonies which include both Greek and Roman (different gods). Also note that the traditional drink was beer or wine and not champagne. These ceremonies date back a thousand or more years before Champagne was inventred. Its a fun thing to do and as others have said......great excuse for a party.
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