Have Wind Will Travel

Curious about cruising? Come aboard.

Search Icon

Menu Toggle Icon

Skip to content
  • Boat
  • Books
  • Crew
  • Our Journey
  • Get on Board
Have Wind Will Travel

Tag: champagne

June 7, 2013 – Bottle smash and blood!

November 4, 2013December 30, 2013anniedike

That’s right.  Blood.  These boat christenings are serious business.  It’s like Fight Club.

fight-club-poster

Rule No. 1:  There must be blood.  Alright, that’s not rule number one (it’s number 12!).  Rule number one is The bottle must break.  And, that is true.  It has to be.  I read it on the internet (http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2506&dat=19650701&id=3lVJAAAAIBAJ&sjid=EwoNAAAAIBAJ&pg=4384,289846).  And, you gotta love that captain for being quick on his feet.  The boat slips out into the water on its own before the ceremony, and he shrugs and says “Everyone knows the christening comes after birth.”  Perfect.  “Now, strike up the band!  I want to hear God Save the Queen.”

We didn’t have quite that degree of pomp and circumstance.  (I don’t think it made the paper.)  But, in the early morning hours of June 7, 2013, we certainly did christen her.  The Travelift was scheduled to come at 7:00 a.m. to pick her up for the haul-in, I guess you would call it.  So, we got there a little early to close and check all the seacocks and through-holes and ready her for the water.  We checked all the fluids.  Yes, the transmission fluid, too.  I checked that first actually, while the boys were commiserating in the cockpit.

IMG_1904

This is the Grand Trio: that’s Kevin the Broker on the left (the buddy who helped us find our gem, the most amazing sailboat ever), Bottom Job Brandon in the middle (the buddy who helped us polish her up and ready her for any voyage) and, on the right, our faithful Captain and Leader, the reason for all of this, the infamous Phillip.

The Travelift came right on time, and the guys and gals at the shipyard started strapping her up.

IMG_1901

IMG_1903

IMG_1911

And we have lift off!

IMG_1912

Thankfully, Houston, there were no problems.

IMG_1919

Phillip looked about as proud as I’ve ever seen him, watching his boat, his dream, his vision, hovering right in front of him.  Finally, a reality.  We both walked alongside her, broad smiles and big chests, pointing, nudging and whispering to each other: That’s our boat!

IMG_1918

IMG_1917

It was a big day for us.

Kevin and Brandon, both avid sailors themselves, and having owned and lived on and around sailboats all their lives, knew what it felt like to put your boat in the water for the first time.  They brought us champagne to break (and drink!), slapped us on the back and shared our excitement.

IMG_1916

Kevin:  “You’re going to spend your best days on her.”

IMG_1915

Phillip:  “I hope to spend every day on her.”

They brought her over the water and dipped her down just low enough for me to smash the bottle on the bow.  IMG_1924

IMG_1937

IMG_1929

IMG_1940

IMG_1930

This was the big moment.  You know, plagued for all eternity and what not.  But, I was ready.  I’d been practicing.  I wasn’t going to let that bottle bounce back unscathed.  Uh-huh, not on this boat.  I reared back and smacked her good.

IMG_1953

KA-POOOWWW!!

Ahhh!  What a glorious moment.  The bottle smashed into 932 pieces and champagne went everywhere!  I made a big scene and acted like a superhero (I tend to do that in moments like this).

IMG_1933

And, then … there was BLOOD.

IMG_1934

I didn’t notice it at first, in all my flailing and flaunting, but Brandon did.  I’m surprised I didn’t get it on my white shirt (I can’t keep a white shirt clean to save my life).  But, she was gushing.  That bottle obviously found a way to get back at me.  A nice shard of it jammed right into my knuckle upon impact.  We didn’t have a band there playing God Save the Queen, but I have a feeling the queen herself would have been proud of my bloody good smash!  Perhaps I swung a little harder than necessary.  I tend to do that at times, too.  But, it was totally worth it.  The bottle shattered, and Plaintiff’s Rest was assured a long, lucky life at sea.  We wrapped my bloody appendage and hopped on board while the boys eased her out of the dock.

 IMAG0762

 IMAG0766

IMAG0770

Plaintiff’s Rest was back in the water!  To ensure a future of fair winds and following seas, we performed the obligatory splash ceremony ritual (http://www.boatnames.com.au/boat-naming-renaming-ceremony.htm) in which we called on Poseidon and the four Wind Gods (north, east, south and west), reading the script out loud, pouring generous amounts of champagne in each direction, and drinking a generous portion ourselves.  Plenty of champagne was consumed during the ceremony, I can assure you.  We had a lot to celebrate!

Phillip was beaming.

IMG_1943

The wind was blowing, and we were sailing!

IMG_1942

And, you know what happens when we go sailing …

IMG_1946

Clothes come off!  I’m kidding.  They do, but only the outer layers.  We love the sun.  Phillip went top-side to enjoy the view from the bow, and I (of course) followed.

IMG_1944

“Hey Cap’n!”

IMG_1945

“You looking for a mate?”

IMG_1947

It was a big day for us and a beautiful day on the water.  We knew, then and there, we would spend our best days on her.

Boat Projects, Bottom Job boat logo, boat re-naming, bottle smashing, bottom job, champagne, pensacola shipyard, perdido sailor, plaintiff's rest, smash the bottle on the bow, splash ceremony, travelift 10 Comments

Follow Us on Instagram

Do you know what Bristol, RI’s biggest claim to fame is? The longest-running annual Fourth of July parade. 🇺🇸 🥳 And, for its 236th year, we were planning to sail from Newport to Bristol to see it. I was expecting big things. Elephants. Ladies juggling swords. Pyrotechnics. What we got was a completely different, mesmerizing experience. And, I wouldn’t have traded it for any sword-juggler in the world. Join us on the HaveWind blog, folks, from Newport to Bristol during our cruise in New England this past summer to experience a true Bristol tradition: the longest-running Fourth of July parade in the nation!
The best 🎶 things in life are ... friends. And rainbows (photo cred to Spandana 🙌). Words can't capture the relationship we have built with these four resilient, hilarious cruisers. Our (long overdue) reunion at Great Sale Cay was just magic. Peter, Patty, Spandan, Dev @forsunandstars we miss you already! Sail on fabulous friends. We'll see you back out there in the islands soon! 😎 🏝️ ⛵️ ❤️
Kitesurfing at Green Turtle Cay. It’s easy. You load up the dink. Rent ‘da cart. Take a right at the Pink Bikini, then you’re there. At the perfect little cove for kiting. What a memorable, beautiful day! 🥰 🏄‍♀️ #havewindwilltravel #abacos #kitesurfing #greenturtlecay #outbound46
Glorious temps. Gentle sailing winds. Stunning waters. Life is not bad here in the Abacos. 🏝️ 🥰 This was also our first glimpse of Hopetown post-Dorian. She’s looking great. There was so much building and repair still going in. It’s inspiring! 💪 #havewindwilltravel #bahamasstrong #hopetown #abacos #outbound46
Green Turtle Cay, not a bad place to ring in 2023!! 🎉 🐢 🏝️ 😎 #havewindwilltravel #greenturtlecay #outbound46 #abacos #happynewyear
Meanwhile in the Abacos … Phillip and I are enjoying some warmer temps 😎 while we hear reports of negative temps from friends back in the States. 🥶 Hope you all are excited about Santa coming tonight. I found the vibe here in the islands perfect for writing a ‘Twas the Night Before post for the blog, where we’re still sharing our first summer in New England. Enjoy the Christmas fun up at HaveWind! Ho Ho Ho! 🎄🎅 🏄‍♀️ 'Twas the night before my birthday, and all through Newport not a surfer was stirring, not even those serious about the sport.
https://youtu.be/nt9FvHIK1O4
https://youtu.be/W-41fwVAfVc
Check out our videos our YouTube

Archives

Follow Blog via Email

Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 814 other subscribers
Email me!
Powered by WordPress.com.
Scroll to Top
 

Loading Comments...