Christening Ceremony
5:00 PM, June 20th, 2009
Note: Kitty
will have champagne (& Troy’s Zaya) & glasses to hand to Jim.
Sequence of Events
The participants and guests
should be sipping the wine with all the toasts. Wine carriers will
please circulate around guests to see that all wine glasses have
libations throughout the ceremony. (Ask Diana, Kathy, Nancy, Terrie
Sue, and Julie if they will do this.)
1. Jim ring’s the bell & Trey
blows the conch to call the ceremony to order.
2. Jim ring’s the bell & Trey
blows the conch again to make sure everyone heard it and is assembled.
3. Jim tells the guests:
”With
every toast, please take a sip of wine to ensure our good luck.
Please take small sips as there are a lot of toasts. There are lovely
ladies amongst you who will add to your glass when you are low. Just
raise your hand, and one of them will pour you some more wine.”
4. Jim ring’s the bell and
explains that we are toasting the boat’s old name by saying,
“A
toast to Phoenix and to those who owned and loved her before us.”
5. As the invocation Jim says:
“In
the name of all who have sailed aboard this vessel in the past …. and
in the name of all who may sail aboard her in the future … we invoke
the ancient God of the Wind, Aeolus, and the God of the Sea, Poseidon …
to favor us with their blessings today.”
6. Jim turns to Poseidon (Troy)
and says:
“Mighty
Poseidon … King of all that moves in or on the waves … we offer thanks
for the protection you have afforded this vessel in the past. … We
voice our gratitude that she has always found shelter from tempest and
storm … and enjoyed safe passage to port.”
a.
Jim pours champagne on the bow.
b.
Jim offers champagne to Poseidon (Troy).
c.
Poseidon (Troy) refuses champagne and asks for Zaya!!!
d.
Jim hurriedly pours a tot of Zaya and hands it to Poseidon
(Troy). (Have ready.)
e.
Then Jim goes on with the request:
“Oh
mighty and great ruler of the seas and oceans … to whom all ships … and
all who venture upon your vast domain … are required to pay homage… we
implore you … in your graciousness … to respect our changing of the
name of this vessel from Phoenix … to Dream Away, … and ask that you
expunge … for all time … from your records and recollection … any
frailties and infractions … of which this vessel may have been guilty …
in her past life.
f.
Jim points down to name board on the bow, and says:
”In
joyous acknowledgement of her new life, we have affixed this name board
bearing her new name … and ask that Dream Away … through your powers …
forever be safe upon the seas.”
g.
Jim bows to Poseidon (Troy), and Poseidon (Troy) blesses the boat with
his toast. (Troy’s toast – not over 15 seconds.)
7. Jim pours champagne into the
waters of the Home Port, and says:
“Thank
you, Poseidon, King of the Sea, for accepting our supplication, … that
this vessel be blessed with her new name … and that she be recognized …
and accorded all the self-same privileges … she previously enjoyed.”
8. Jim turns to Trey and says:
“We
now request that Aeolus … Guardian of the Winds … and all that blow
before them … assures Dream Away .. and her crew … of fair winds and
smooth seas.
a.
Jim pours champagne on the bow.
b. Jim offers
champagne to Aeolus (Trey), saying:
“Aeolus,
mighty Ruler of the Winds … through whose power … our frail vessels
traverse the wild and faceless deep … we implore you to grant this
worthy vessel … Dream Away … the benefits … and pleasures … of your
bounty. Ensure us of your gentle benevolence … according to our needs.”
c. Jim bows to Aeolus (Trey), and
Aeolus (Trey) blesses the boat with his toast. (Trey’s toast – not over
15 seconds.)
9. Honoring the North Wind: Jim
faces north (while Trey blows the conch), pours champagne into a
champagne flute, and hands it to Kayla to deliver to the North Wind
(Connie). At this time, Trey blows the conch in the North Wind
direction.
a.
Jim says:
“Great
Boreas … exalted ruler of the North Wind … please 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.”
b. Jim bows to Boreas (Connie),
and Boreas (Connie) blesses the boat with her toast. (Connie’s toast –
not over 15 seconds.)
10. Honoring the West Wind: Jim
faces west (while Trey blows the conch), pours champagne into a
champagne flute, and hands it to Anne to deliver to the West Wind
(Martha). At this time, Trey blows the conch in the West Wind direction.
a. Jim says:
“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.”
b. Jim bows to Zephyrus (Martha),
and Zephyrus (Martha) blesses the boat with her toast (Martha’s toast –
not over 15 seconds.)
11. Honoring the East
Wind: Jim faces east (while Trey blows the conch), pours
champagne into a flute, and hands it to Kayla to deliver to the East
Wind (Jill). At this time, Trey blows the conch in the East Wind
direction.
a.
Jim says:
“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.”
b. Jim bows to Eurus (Jill), and
Eurus (Jill) blesses the boat with her toast (Jill’s toast – not over
15 seconds.)
12. Honoring the South Wind:
Jim faces south (while Trey blows the conch), pours champagne into a
flute, and hands it to Anne to deliver to the South Wind (Kat). At this
time, Trey blows the conch in the South Wind direction.
a.Jim
says:
“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.”
b. Jim bows to Notus (Kat), and
Notus (Kat) blesses the boat with her toast (Kat’s toast – not over 15
seconds.)
13. Jim pours champagne into
the sea, and says:
“In
consequence whereof … and in good faith … we seal these pacts with
libations offered … according to the hallowed rituals of the sea.
… … In appreciation of your bounty and dispensation … and in honor of
your greatnesses … we offer these libations to your majesties and your
courts”
14. Christening. Jim looks down
at Anne and Kayla, hands each a flute of sparkling cider, and says:
“Fairy
Princesses Anne and Kayla, … we ask your blessings on this boat.”
a.
Fairy Princess Anne pours some of the sparkling cider on the bow and
says:
“I
christen thee Dream Away. May God bless you, and all who sail in you.
Let it be recorded, that on this day, June 20th, and forever more, this
fine vessel is named “Dream Away”.
b. While Anne is asking the
blessing, Kayla (with help from Jim) raises the Dream Away flag that
Julie and Frank have made.
c. Kayla and Anne each
hand Jim an “eye” for the bow of the ship.
d. Anne and Kayla lift
their glasses towards the main mast and Jim, and together they say:
“We
christen thee a magical boat, with winds always in your sails, and
never a stormy sea. May these eyes guide you to many beautiful ports
and see you through exciting adventures.
e. Jim bows to Anne and Kayla, and
they all three toast one another. Then the Fairy Princesses return to
their seats on the deck box.
15. Announcement: Jim says:
“We
have placed coins under the masts as good luck charms, and as symbols
of generosity to this vessel, to show her that we will care for her and
attend to her every need and desire.
16. Farewell:
a.
Jim toasts the guests, saying:
“And
now … we’d like to thank you all for joining us in these festivities …
and in celebrating these joyous occasions … our birthdays … our 40th
wedding anniversary … and the christening of our boat”.
b. Kitty toasts the guests,
saying:
“This
is wonderful. Each and every one of you means something very special to
us. Thank you so much for coming.”
c. Jim says:
"Everyone
please drink a toast to Dream Away, and head for the buffet table."
d. Then Jim rings the bell, and
says:
“Cheers!!
e. Trey blows the
conch to end the ceremony.