Naming any type of vessel is a tradition that is many centuries old. See (or sea!) below. Many of us in racing today still observe this tradition. It certainly adds color to our sport and spectators seem to like it.
Please tell what names you have put on your boat or the ones you have seen on other racing rigs that you like the best.
Names that I liked in the past include a flat bottom called "Das Firespttinloudenboomer" and of course the Unlimited called Slo-Mo-Shun which was anything but slow.
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Christening ceremonies were and are meant to bring good luck to the New Ship, and those who sail on it. Christening a new ship or naming ceremony's goes back to the early days of sailing ( ceremonies involved in naming and launching ships are based in traditions thousands of years old.) in the early rituals ship christenings of the Vikings were marked by the spilling of blood. In the Middle Ages, religious shrines were on the ship and a libation of wine was offered as the vessel hit the water as a substitute for the earlier blood sacrifice. The wine was poured on the deck appease King Neptune for good luck and a safe voyage. Ancient seafaring peoples, rimming the Mediterranean, launched their ships with rituals having religious overtones. These practices, varying inform as nations and cultures evolved through the centuries, have carried over to the present christening and launching ceremonies. The current tradition throughout the world has been that women christen ships, but it has not always been this way early ceremony's were performed by officials or local religious men
The traditional christening ceremony includes the smashing of a champagne bottle across the ship's bow. And Saying something like:
SPOKEN OUT LOUD
"I name this ship ___________ and may she bring fair winds and good fortune to all who sail on her."
The ship then makes a dramatic launch into water, In ways of the Old it is ok to pour the Wine or Champagne in the water from west to east. These traditional ceremonies can be great fun for you and your family's the more people the better, just be sure to bring enough champagne
Superstition or not the Titanic was never christened! And the USS Arizona was Christened with water rather than wine or champagne. Good examples of bad luck, God Bless Their Soul
Renaming a boat or a ship is considered to be very unlucky.
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