[TSOJOURNER]

Hi,
I'm relatively new to all of this. My husband and I bought a 23.5' Hunter a couple of years ago and sailed a little on a small inland lake with it. We just finished sailing school and are excited about the upcoming sailing season. I've been thinking about it for sometime and decided it's time to name her. I've done my research on de-naming and renaming ceremonies. What I'm unsure of is the fact that, to my knowledge, this boat was never named. If it was, there was no record of it. How, then should I proceed? Should I just name her or do I still have to perform some sort of de-naming ceremony? Please help, I don't want jinxed before we even begin. Thanks

 

[Flybyknight]

Oh My!! You are sailing into some serious JuJu.
Better heed the words of council offered here lest you incur the displeasure of those entities you do not want to offend.
Denaming
Dick

 

[SecondWindNC]

We looked into the rituals and ceremonies when we renamed our P30 from Grayhound (what kind of boat name is that?) to Second Wind.

In the end, our procedure ended up primarily consisting of removing the old name from the boat and applying the new one to the stern. We thought it a shame to waste champagne or liquor by bursting a bottle, but we did consume some aboard our fair vessel once the new vinyl graphic was firmly affixed.

Now I'll sit back and wait to be admonished and told I'm lucky she didn't sink on the spot!

 

[PalmettoSailor]

I used JV's denameing ritual as Flybyknight linked to followed by the slightly modified Christening ceremony same as Second Wind for both of the boats we've owned. We did pour a share for the sea gods and some for the boat.

Apparently, they see no need to break the bottle either as we've had fair luck.

 

[WouldaShoulda]

The naming part is easy.

I see no need to de-name "the boat previously known as the boat with no name!!"

 

[AlanBrown]

Woulda's got it right. No prior name, no problem!

 

[Encre2Chine]

Lovely thread

I just named my brand new First 31.7 "Encre de Chine", a French name basically meaning "Ink of China" which, oddly enough, is translated in English by "Indian Ink" (where did the Royal Navy got their maps from ?).
Living in Hong Kong, we, my girl and I, thought we should also give her a Chinese name, just like people here have their traditional names and their "western" name. So we decided for "Su Fat Ga", "Chinese Calligrapher".

It took us quite a ceremony to be forgiven for this non-sense by the JuJus. First a traditional Chinese "good luck" red and gold silk flag blessed by the local temple. Around here it seems that this just does work ! I also had to stick the inevitable red envelop under the chart table, and finally I was allowed to go out, for the Champagne ceremony. First, pour a glass for the Ocean, then a glass for the Boat, then, and only then, you can finally have a sip.

Sailors are probably almost as supersticious as Chinese..sailing with a Chinese girl, I had to take all precautions...and so far so good

 

[Valiente]

Good luck finding a virgin that needs to pee. The last time I did, I was in Grade 11.

 

[TSOJOURNER]

Thank you

Thank you for all the great advice. It seems that I was correct in my thoughts to skip the de-naming ceremony since I could not find any previous name. If I can't find any name, I'm sure the gods won't mind if I just go ahead and name her "Better Days".
Thanks again, all.

 

[cal30]

Have fun sailing!

Here's to "Better Days"! SALUD.
Aloha ka'kou.

 

[Encre2Chine]

Nice Name ! Congratulations !

 

[Harryeod]

Congratulations and nice name.

 

[ADMTROX]

Congrats, it is a nice name and seems appropriate.

 

[Whissell]

Good Morning Sailor Girl:
Any time we've renamed, the tradition was to burn the old name onto a piece of diftwood and hang it up. Then proceed with removing the old name and the renaming process began. However, since she had no previous name I don't the the God's of sailing would object to skipping the denaming. "Better Days" sounds like a great name.....May you have lots of fair winds in the days to come

Oldsailor

 

[Boasun]

Well a shot of single malt whiskey for Neptune, One for the boat and the rest of the bottle finished off by all who attended the Naming Ceremony.

 

[81Hunter]

LOL

I renamed my first boat (A Hunter) within a week, and for the last 4 years she's been fine (touching lots of wood)

The dealer I bought it from said he's bought 7 boats in his life, and renamed all but 1, which coincidentally was lost in a storm whilst being delivered from the Bahamas..