I’m not really superstitious and I’m definitely not religious in the traditional sense (although I was dragged to church for a dozen years as a wee lad), but somehow it just seems appropriate to invoke whatever powers that may exist in the realm beyond the senses to aid in the safe and smooth launching and operation of a seagoing vessel. The ocean is deep and mysterious and covering one’s bases can’t hurt, right?

A number of years ago Helen and I renamed our 1988 Caliber 28, which was originally called Mystique (not bad, but not us) to Imagine. We used author and sailor John Vigor’s Renaming Ceremony, wherein one reassures the craft that you’re not renaming her because you’re  upset with her, but rather that you love her and want to give her a special name. It involves Neptune, some rum on the deck and is quite fun. http://www.johnvigor.com/Blog.html

We also happened to have a Catholic priest available (friend of a an old friend) who came out and did a proper blessing (in the rain, at night, gawdbless’im). Red wine and grilled beef followed and a delightful precedent was set.

Flash forward about 10 years and as launch day loomed we decided we must take the time to have a party and say some words.  My friend Rev. Robin, who is an Episcopal priest/ chaplain at a large retirement community in town , agreed to do the honors.

Spreading the word by email, Facebook and beyond, we  conjured quite a crowd on the appointed day. Thunderstorms circled ominously all morning, but by the mid afternoon it was bright and sunny, at least above our spot in the country.

The first order of business was the pagan naming ceremony, in which mighty Neptune is implored to take note of the name of our ship and grant her swift and safe passage within his realm. Then a toast is made to the four winds, Boreas, Zephyrus, Eurus and Notus, with a generous toss of champagne in each cardinal direction followed by a swig.

After the crowd was loosened up with the champers, it was Rev. Robin’s turn to work some magic. She really did her research and came up with some wonderful  historical anecdotes about the early Christians and boats, as well as the Sailor’s Psalm from Capt. JH Roberts, 1874. It was a beautiful blessing and I had tears in my eyes as I absorbed the positive vibes that all of our friends were generating to support our endeavor.