R22 Discussion Group

RED WINE is not an acceptable liquid for the naming/renaming ritual. Rum,

The dog of Hades that guards the gates of the  underworld will track you 
down and get its revenge on you for  daring to eradicate the name of its queen 
without conducting the proper  ceremony.

Everyone knows that  renaming your boat will bring nothing but bad luck and 
make your boating  experience something that you will want to forget. But 
what happens when, after  months of searching, you find your dreamboat with a 
name that you just cannot  live with. For example, my first love was a 
28-foot Alden with the most  beautiful lines I’d ever seen. She was named 
Perfidious. How could  anything this graceful be named betrayer of trust? Well, I 
never bought  her, but I often thought that if I had, I would have renamed 
her Magic,  after my wife.  
Renaming a boat is, of  course, not something to be done lightly. Since the 
beginning of time, sailors  have sworn that there are unlucky ships and the 
unluckiest ships of all are  those who have defied the gods and changed 
their names. So, is there a way to  change a name and not incur the wrath of 
those deities that rule the elements?  Yes, Virginia, there is. 
According to legend, each and every  vessel is recorded by name in the 
Ledger of the Deep and is known personally to  Poseidon, or Neptune, the god of 
the sea. It is logical therefore,  if we wish to change the name of our 
boat, the first thing we must do is to  purge its name from the Ledger of the 
Deep and from Poseidon’s memory.   
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. A couple of 
weeks later, he discovered he had  missed a faded name on her floating key 
chain. I advised him to start over,  perhaps with a little extra libation for 
the ruler of the sea. Unfortunately, he  declined.  
Since then, his boat has  been struck by lightning, had its engine ruined 
by the ingress of the sea, been  damaged by collision and finally sunk! It 
pays to be  thorough. 
In purging your boat, it  is acceptable to use White-Out or some similar 
obliterating fluid to expunge the  boat’s name from log books, engine and 
maintenance records etc., but it is much  easier to simply remove the offending 
document from the boat and start afresh.  Don’t forget the life rings and 
especially the transom and forward name boards.   
Do not under any  circumstances carry aboard any item bearing your boat’s 
new name until the  purging and renaming ceremonies have been completed! 
Once you are certain every  reference to her old name has been removed from 
her, all that is left to do is  to prepare a metal tag with the old name 
written on it in water-soluble ink. You  will also need a bottle of reasonably 
good Rum. Plain old Rum won’t cut it.  Since this is an auspicious 
occasion, it is a good time to invite your friends  to witness and to party. Begin 
by invoking the name of the ruler of the deep as  follows: 
Oh mighty and great ruler of the seas  and oceans, to whom all ships and we 
who venture upon your vast domain are  required to pay homage, implore you 
in your graciousness to expunge for all time  from your records and 
recollection the name (here insert the old name of your  vessel) which has ceased to 
be an entity in your kingdom. As proof thereof, we  submit this ingot 
bearing her name to be corrupted through your powers and  forever be purged from 
the sea. (At this point, the prepared metal tag is  dropped from the bow of 
the boat into the sea.)  
In grateful acknowledgment of your  munificence and dispensation, we offer 
these libations to your majesty and your  court. (Pour at least half of the 
bottle of Rum into the sea from East to West.  The remainder may be passed 
among your guests. 
It is usual for the  renaming ceremony to be conducted immediately 
following the purging ceremony,  although it may be done at any time after the 
purging ceremony. For this portion  of the proceedings, you will need more Rum, 
Much more because you have a few  more gods to appease. Begin the renaming by 
again calling Poseidon as  follows: 
Oh mighty and great ruler of the seas  and oceans, to whom all ships and we 
who venture upon your vast domain are  required to pay homage, implore you 
in your graciousness to take unto your  records and recollection this worthy 
vessel hereafter and for all time known as  (Here insert the new name you 
have chosen), guarding her with your mighty arm  and trident and ensuring her 
of safe and rapid passage throughout her journeys  within your realm. 
In appreciation of your munificence,  dispensation and in honor of your 
greatness, we offer these libations to your  majesty and your court. (At this 
point, one bottle of Rum, less one glass for  the master and one glass for 
the mate are poured into the sea from West to  East.) 
The next step in the  renaming ceremony is to appease the gods of the 
winds. This will assure you of  fair winds and smooth seas. Because the four 
winds are brothers, it is  permissible to invoke them all at the same time, 
however, during the ceremony;  you must address each by name. Begin in this  
manner: 
Oh mighty rulers of the winds, through  whose power our frail vessels 
traverse the wild and faceless deep, we implore  you to grant this worthy vessel 
(Insert your boat’s new name) the benefits and  pleasures of your bounty, 
ensuring us of your gentle ministration according to  our needs.(Facing north, 
pour a generous libation of Rum into a glass and fling  to the North as you 
intone:) Great Boreas, exalted ruler of the North Wind,  grant us 
permission to use your mighty powers in the pursuit of our lawful  endeavors, ever 
sparing us the overwhelming scourge of your frigid  breath.(Facing west, pour 
the same amount of Rum and fling to the West while  intoning:) Great 
Zephyrus, exalted ruler of the West Wind, grant us permission  to use your mighty 
powers in the pursuit of our lawful endeavors, ever sparing  us the 
overwhelming scourge of your wild breath.(Facing east, repeat and fling  to the 
East.) Great Eurus, exalted ruler of the East Wind, grant us permission  to use 
your mighty powers in the pursuit of our lawful endeavors, ever sparing  us 
the overwhelming scourge of your mighty breath. 
(Facing south, repeat, flinging to the  South.) Great Notus, exalted ruler 
of the South Wind, grant us permission to use  your mighty powers in the 
pursuit of our lawful endeavors, ever sparing us the  overwhelming scourge of 
your scalding breath. 
Of course, any Rum  remaining will be the beginnings of a suitable 
celebration in honor of the  occasion. 
Once the ceremony has been  completed, you may bring aboard any and all 
items bearing the new name of your  vessel. If you must schedule the painting 
of the new name on the transom before  the ceremony, be sure the name is not 
revealed before the ceremony is finished.  It may be covered with bunting or 
some other suitable material.  

In a message dated 6/5/2012 11:17:25 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time,  
shawn.sustain at gmail.com writes:

Rummy:

I understand your preference, but it is just that, a  preference.  I
distinctly heard the gods smack their lips upon being  offered wine...

cheers,
Shawn

not available

The Rhodes 22 Discussion Group

R22RumRunner at aol.com

Boat renaming ceremony.