Name a boat, name your life
h mighty Neptune, King of all that moves in or on the waves; please grant us . . . um . . . something.’’
This, or something similar, is what I’m going to have to yell out to sea if we want to change the name of our boat. Ridiculous – surely?
Legend has it that if you want to name a boat you have get in touch with a Roman god, or find a virgin to pee in the bilge.
If you don’t, you’re destined for years of gloom and doom at sea.
It has to do with Ledger of the Deep and it’s all very sinister and serious, but when you’re talking about survival at sea, who wants to take any chances?
Or maybe we’ll just go the Viking way and spill a bit of blood, or the Christian way and smash champagne in the water east to west.
There are some stunning boat names at Mana Marina. Most are alter egos, or about hope and living the dream.
One of my favourites is E Ticket, named after the type of ticket that gets you the best rides at Disneyland.
E Ticket has been renamed many times: Barker Seater, T&T, Liana Shell, E52, Spirit, and so far there have been no tyranny strikes from Neptune.
Brian and Vicky have a gorgeous boat called Claude William, the name of Brian’s dad.
Brian was instrumental in designing and building the boat. Some of his earlier sketches had the name Claude William on, although they hadn’t definitely decided on a name.
Sadly Brian’s Dad died before the boat was launched.
At a family gathering a carver etched a teak panel with the name Claude William on it.
So the naming was done and the panel sits rightfully proud across the back of the boat.
Lloyd has a yacht called Idunno.
When he was a youngster, he liked the name Ariana.
All the boats he’s owned have been goddesses – Athena (Goddess of Wisdom), Nereia (wife of Neptune, God of the Sea).
He’s about to rename his boat Ariana, a character from Greek mythology. Some say she is the goddess of colours and emotion.
When I was 8, I wanted to change my name to Laura.
Inspired by Laura Ingalls from the TV series Little House on the Prairie, I thought that by changing my name I would suddenly have lovely long hair, and oodles of extra love and laughter as I ran through fields of long grass.
It wasn’t until someone pointed out that Laura was also called Half-Pint that I thought my own name was OK.
I’d like to change the name of our boat to reflect a way forward, something to aim for on harder days, a reminder that being positive and inspired is a muscle that needs exercising.
But why limit ourselves to boat names?
Today I’m naming the day Cheery Day. Happy Cheery Day everyone.