What is a renaming ceremony?
This is an involved process beginning with the removal or obliteration of every trace of the boat’s current identity. This is essential and must be done thoroughly. I once went through the ceremony after the owner had assured me that every reference to his boat’s old name had been purged from her.
Why do they christen a ship with champagne?
It’s traditionally supposed to be good luck to both the ship and her crew to break a bottle of champagne over the bow of a new vessel. If the bottle fails to break, superstition says that the vessel and its passengers may be cursed with bad luck.
Is renaming a boat bad luck?
Historically it’s been considered bad luck to change the name of a boat. However, if you absolutely must change the name of a boat, a purging and renaming ceremony must be completed before the name is revealed or anything with the new name enters the boat.
Why is it unlucky to rename a boat?
Why is it bad luck to change the name of a vessel? Legend says that when every ship is christened, its name goes into a “Ledger of the Deep” maintained by Neptune (or Poseidon) himself. Renaming a ship or boat means you’re trying to slip something past the gods and you will be punished for your deviousness.
How do you do a boat ceremony?
Modern christening ceremonies consist of saying a few words about the boat, toasting to the honor of the new boat’s name and then breaking a bottle of champagne against the boat’s bow—or pouring the contents onto the bow. The entire process usually takes less than five minutes.
Is it bad luck to christen a boat?
Whats it called when you smash a champagne bottle on a boat?
The process also involves many traditions intended to invite good luck, such as christening by breaking a sacrificial bottle of champagne over the bow as the ship is named aloud and launched.
Why do we christen ships?
Christening your boat has a been a tradition among seafarers for thousands of years. It’s essentially an invitation for the sea gods to bless your boat. Of course, this requires a little bit of a sacrifice.
What to do before the denaming of a boat?
One of the things the gods of the sea despise most is meanness, so don’t try to do this bit on the cheap. Before the ceremony, remove all physical traces of the boat’s old name. If the old name is carved into timber somewhere, it’s not enough just to paint over it. Fill, sand, and repaint.
Can you use alcohol in a denaming ceremony?
Alternatively, you may open the bottle and spray the contents on the bow and forward topsides. If you have serious objections to the use of alcohol, use any sparkling non-alcoholic drink instead.
Can you read the denaming ceremony on the foredeck?
You can read this ceremony on the foredeck before a gathering of distinguished guests, or you can mumble it down below on your own if you find these things embarrassing. The main thing is that you must say the words. The libation should be carried out at the bows, just as it is in a christening ceremony.
Do you need a naming ceremony for a boat?
A boat needs a name and a naming ceremony. Superstition has it that if you launch a boat without having held a naming ceremony, you’ll offend the gods and suffer bad luck. But be careful when you give your boat a name. A boat with a name that is too presumptuous is said to attract ill fortune.