On on Sunday May 19th. 2013 we had the commissioning party at Salpare Bay Marina to christen the CarolMarie according to Maritime Tradition.
Tradition states that the old name is never spoken by the crew, or captain once taken over from the old owner. The old name must be removed from the vessel for at least a month so the sea forgets her old name. All offending paperwork with the old name had to be removed from the boat. Then the following words must be said at the christening with her skippers and as many of her crew as can attend. So with the crew and friends we gathered on the dock, and held up our glasses filled with
As I stood on the deck of the boat and dumped another complete bottle of champagne on her deck into the river. It was to ensure the waters were completely satisfied with her, and would forget her old name once drunk. While doing this I spoke the words with my best authoritative voice,
"I name this ship CarolMarie and may she bring fair winds and good fortune to all who sail on her. In the name of all who have sailed aboard this ship in the past, and in the name of all who may sail aboard her in the future, we invoke God to favor us with their blessing today. Mighty God that moves the waves; and guardian of the winds and all that blows before them: We offer you our thanks for the protection you have afforded this vessel in the past. We voice our gratitude that she has always found shelter from tempest and storm and enjoyed safe passage to port. We ask that when she is again presented for blessing with another name, she shall be recognized and shall be accorded once again the selfsame privileges she previously enjoyed. In return for which, we rededicate this vessel to Your domain in full knowledge that she shall be subject as always to the immutable laws of the wind and the sea. In consequence whereof, and in good faith, we seal this pact with a libation offered according to the hallowed ritual of the sea." [ok – I made most of it up… borrowing from John Vigor's work…. But hell you guys know me already…. we were just having fun christening the boat].
Afterwards she seemed to sit up there a little more pretty and a little more proud, with her name and new port displayed on her stern.
Special thanks to my friend Stefan who came all the way from Germany to attend, and help me put the new vinyl on for the name. And a special thanks to Kevin and Linda for cutting the vinyl for free at their shop. Thanks to Lee, Michelle, Katie, Evan, Isaac, Jim, and Linda for attending to see she was properly done up. But most thanks to my co-skipper Charing for making my dream hers and making it happen.
In other news I met another Hans 38 MKII owner on the way to lunch. After getting the name on the boat on Saturday before the party, Stefan, Isaac and I headed over to lunch at the Island Cafe. Looking into the boatyard at Danish Marina I saw the stern of a 38 MKII up on stands.
We soon met Brad the owner of the boat. He gave us a tour and it wasn't long before we were comparing notes and trying to figure out what to use from each others best ideas. Brad had owned her for the last two years and was in the process of repairing years of weathered damage and tear she'd suffered. Turns out that Brad's boat and mine were made in the same year even. That was very cool. Brad came over and toured the CarolMarie, giving me points on he'd learned over the years. It was a great time.
For now I am done for all the planned maintenance; now its time to get out there.
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