tako kichi
'tako kichi' means "wind related bringer of good luck" in Japanese, it also means "octopus gardener". I prefer the second translation but Darcy always makes me give the first.On one of the Japanese islands (which escapes me at the momnet; embarrassing) there is a traditional festival each spring at which each family flys a dragon kite with paper Koi fish attached to the line. The dragon brings the spirits of the ancestors down to earth. Each Koi represents a family member. As the wind passes over the Koi, it strips back luck from it, and so from the family. Unfortunately, all of the bad luck is then passed to the person flying the kite, traditionally the oldest son.After the dragon kites are flown, each kite flyer then flys a kite called a Rok, which is controllable. The lines are rubbed with tar and then rolled through ground glass. A battle is fought with the kites, each person trying to cut free his opponents' kites. As each kite is cut free, with it goes the bad luck of the flyer. It is an honor to be the last pilot with a kite, though also it means that the bad luck may not be sucked away. That last person is thought to have brought goodluck to everyone else, hence he is 'tako kichi."In college I was too poor to have a boat (who am I kidding now; lawschool poor is not a lot better than college poor) so I entertained myself flying stunt kites. A japanese friend thought my interest in kites strange, and dubbed me - tako kichi. Strangely fitting since I have a marine aquarium.Anyway, we thought it a better name for the boat than for a person.Justin - O'day Owners' Web