Everyone knows, beyond the shadow of a doubt, that it is BAD LUCK to rename your boat, right??

UNLESS you adhere to a strict protocol that involves both de-naming and re-naming ceremonies, offerings to all of the Gods involved, and lots of champagne.

Only after adhering to these rules can one hope to be kept safe from the wrath of the god of the seas. I know I don’t intend to piss off Poseidon, (who, I understand, can be quite temperamental)  so we had ourselves a little ceremony.

After checking with several companies that will remove the old and add the new lettering, getting their pricing and the process they use, Jeff reckoned he would do a better job himself, while saving us quite a few greenbacks, as well. (Have you caught on yet that we are frugal sailors??) Ordering the letters in the size, font and color we wanted from Boat US (cha-ching…member di$count!) we knew exactly what we were getting.

Jeff used a heat gun to remove the old adhesive lettering, then used lots of elbow-grease to get the fiberglass squeaky-clean.

Good. Now that the old name was off, we could celebrate.

NOT!

First, we had to make sure there was no evidence of the old name on board. None. So we destroyed or removed all mention of “Panasea II”. Old boat cards, documents, and a tea towel were tossed. Bill of sale was stashed safely away in the car. And we were not to have any items with the new name “Kismet” on board yet, either.

This whole process is not to be taken lightly, I’m telling you!

We then stood on the bow of the boat and offered thanks to Mighty Neptune, God of the seas, and Aeolus, guardian of the winds, for protecting the vessel in the past and future.

There”s a lot more verbage, but you get the drift.

We then sprayed champagne all over the bow of now unnamed boat.

We then finished the champagne.

Next came adding the new name to the boat, which took much longer than it should have, but Jeff is very, very anal precise.

Finally, it was time to rename our boat! We took Kismet into the Chesapeake Bay. Typically, the renaming of a boat is a social event, but we had some unfinished business to tend to, which was more of  personal matter, so it was just ourselves and, of course, Roxie and Chance.

Again we addressed the Gods, this time even more of them, and made the offerings of Champagne. Here is the ceremony we used

Now on to our last, but most important ceremony. The ashes of Kismet, our beloved Tibetan Terrier that crossed over the rainbow bridge in April (after going for a ride on the boat before he passed) were scattered into the bay. Jeff and I both spoke to our “little man” what was in our hearts, some tears were shed, and more champagne was consumed.

Done, and done. The Gods have been appeased for protection, and Kismet’s ashes have been scattered to the winds to offer strength and love on our forthcoming journeys.

All is good.

All is well.

All in the name of Kismet.