The Re-naming ceremony

Though it happened a while back,  here's how the changing of the name ceremony went down...

I'm not a particularly superstitious person, but with boats, and the sea, I make some exceptions.  I felt like the boat which was named "Dragonfly" when I bought her, deserved a more graceful and appropriate title. The description of the bird, a Tern is...."a graceful and nimble creature, fiercely loyal, buoyant in flight, a global traveller."  What could be better?, I thought.

A day was spent cleaning,  scrubbing, replacing the red mainsail with the new one (a new set of wings!). I carefully removed the old name, painting over the area where the adhesive letters had been, and applied the four new letters.  Humble and simple.

So with the word "TERN" proudly showing on the stern, I raised the new main and slipped away from the dock and out the breakwater in the evening beauty.  Once clear of the breakwater, I raised the new Genoa as well, and in the 8 knot breeze we started moving beautifully--light, nimble, and buoyant.

Of course, the ritual was not over;  next came the tequila--a swig for the sea, a swig for TERN (down the cockpit drain), a swig for my friend (and witness to the ceremony), and a swig for me.   Then another swig for me and my companion.  Just to be safe.

TERN the day of the renaming

TERN the day of the renaming ceremony.  New main visible.

After a great sail in the evening light, we headed back to the marina.  My friend and I said goodnight, and I spent more time down below, making a fire in the wood stove, savoring a beer and some food, and just enjoying the "belly" of TERN in the glow of the two candle lanterns.

TERN

Though no coin was put under the mast, and no bottles were broken over the bow, I know with full confidence that the powers that be, and TERN, feel duly respected with the process.