Hi all,

I'm wondering if anyone has any tales of woe about people who sneered at superstition and renamed their boats?
Our boat has a lame name, but we're slowly getting used to it.

Sailors are traditionally a superstitious bunch. But that was the 1800s, and I think we're safe these days. Lame names should be ditched.

I couldnt see any fun in "Johnathon Livingstone Seagull" so it was changed without hesitation.

Whats ours then?

Mags, you weren't trying to be all sympathetic and caring to young ladies in 1975 - it was obligatory in every girls' album collection (and it was rubbish) - roll on Dark Side of the Moon and Led Zep Physical Graffiti!

"I couldnt see any fun in "Johnathon Livingstone Seagull" so it was changed without hesitation."

And where is the vessel now? as Iam waiting to claim her for the deep!...........

King Neptune, she's in my garage. If you can sink her from there, you're a better god than I thought. My regards to Davy Jones.

My previous boat was painted green, another superstitious 'no no'.

p.s. Andrew I was only just being born in 1975. Hadnt quite got into girls...

Fnah fnah!

This from Google!
"Interestingly, the only records of this superstition that we could find began just over a hundred years ago, with a mention in            Stevenson's book, Treasure Island:
              1881 Stevenson, Treasure Island, He was hanged like a dog, and sun-dried like the rest, at Corso Castle. That was Roberts’ men, 
              that was, and comed of changing names to their ships - Royal 
              Fortune, and so on. Now what a ship was christened, so let her 
              stay, I say.
              1832 It was like this. Bill’s first wife were named Bertha, and 
              this ‘ere boat were named Bertha - and quite right, too. But she 
              died last year, and Bill married again - quite right too- but 
              damned if ‘e don’t go and re-christen the boat Beatrice,’cause 
              that were the name of ‘is fresh wife. It’s all wrong - agin. 
              Providence - for ain’t it true that you must never rename a boat 
              or a ship? ‘E tempted Providence, and e’s boat smashed.
              1961 Sailors believe that it is unlucky to alter the name of the 
              ship. Many tales are told of vessels which were lost after such a 
              change. HMS Victoria which sank in a tragic accident in 1893 was 
              one of these; so was HMS Cobra.
              1980 Sea Captain’s wife… When we buy a boat, we never change her 
              name - it’s very unlucky."
So there we are in the Navy there is s decomissioning ceremony that enables commisioned ships that have been "Christened" at a proper launchings "with the benefit of clergy" to be be unamed an odd Anglican Conception I was at Brittannia's though she has not been renamed, Belfast, Victory and others remain "Commisioned".
Franly I'd cross my fingers and do it as to green not so just; a modern silly idea.

Looking at the names of the Merlins of the past show just how the names have changed over the years.  There  was a certain charm to many of them long ago - some very clever plays on words too.  In many ways it is an intersting comment on social history too - some of the words now used would be unrecognisable to the founders of the fleet or if they knew, the social niceties  of the day would prevent them being used!!  Great to trundle through the year book and see the names used.

USS Phoenix was lucky enough to survive at Pearl Harbour but after being bought by the Argentine Navy and renamed the General Belgrano did not fare so well.

Sunk with a torpedo made before her keel was laid fired from one of our finest Nuclear Submarines "HMS Conqueror" 
Point of order does anyone know why Submarines are always "Boats" not "Ships"? Obviously a submariner tradition like saluting quarterdecks - across every navy but why? (Quarterdeck is because that's where Nelson was "mortally wounded!")Not even the excellent HM Submarine Museum at Gosport knows!

Actually, it is probably not bad luck so much as a change of luck.  There are numerous examples of ships which were considered unlucky having their names changed.

Our Merlin 3538 was renamed Sorcerer's Apprentice, I think by previous owner Ross as he didn't think the original name, Soixantine, was appropriate as this related to the original owner's 60th birthday.
There is also another Merlin listed in the book called Sorcerer's Apprentice.
Despite all this there has been no evidence of bad luck so far unlike our previous Merlin, Hubble Bubble..., which was holed on a Whitstable groin and t-boned within months of getting it (neither were terminal).

My merlin Plum Crazy 3280 was previously named Plum Line and has not been unlucky, holed, T boned or sunk, yet...

Perhaps the only surefire way of owning a boat with a name you actually like is to buy a brand-spanking new one and christen her yourself.  Unfortunately for me that is currently not a financial option.

Also, isn't there some sort of nautical ceremony for renaming a boat to avoid any bad luck?

Oops, boat number is actually 3233 (not 3323 as in previous post).

Come to think of it, I have been unlucky a few times in my boat. This year at Salcombe I cracked the gunwhale just next to the lovely repair Lawrie did for me after Salcombe the year before!

At least my crew's thumb repaired itself for free...

I have been thinking about a new name for my 3261 "Perhaps" (anyone know the history of the name?)
It's just a thought I have been getting while sailing without a crew.
The new one might be "This side up" with the Merlin sign as an arrow.

Maybe the original owner got fed up with peoples suggestions and decided the only good thing they where saying was 'Perhaps' it should be ...........

Yes there is a ceremony it involves clergy ask any Naval Officer there has to be one around they've precious few ships or boats to float around in sadly, and they've just sold 3 more to Chile. Theree used to a merlin sailing parson too who rearranged his services around the Silver Tiller Circuit.

Here's one!

According to legend, each and every 
vessel is recorded by name in the Ledger 
of the Deep and is known personally to 
Poseidon, or Neptune, the god of the 
sea. It is logical therefore, if we wish to 
change the name of our boat, the first 
thing we must do is to purge its name 
from the Ledger of the Deep and from 
Poseidon’s memory. 

This is an involved process beginning with 
the removal or obliteration of every trace 
of the boat’s current identity. This is 
essential and must be done thoroughly. I 
once went through the ceremony after the 
owner had assured me that every 
reference to his boat’s old name had been 
purged from her. A couple of weeks later, 
he discovered he had missed a faded 
name on her floating key chain. I advised 
him to start over, perhaps with a little extra libation for the ruler of the sea. Unfortunately, he 
declined. Since then, his boat has been struck by lightning, had its engine ruined by the ingress 
of the sea, been damaged by collision and finally sunk! It pays to be thorough. 

In purging your boat, it is acceptable to use White-Out or some similar obliterating fluid to 
expunge the boat’s name from log books, engine and maintenance records etc., but it is much 
easier to simply remove the offending document from the boat and start afresh. Don’t forget 
the life rings and especially the transom and forward name boards. Do not under any 
circumstances carry aboard any item bearing your boat’s new name until the purging and 
renaming ceremonies have been completed! Once you are certain every reference to her old 
name has been removed from her, all that is left to do is to prepare a metal tag with the old 
name written on it in water-soluble ink. You will also need a bottle of reasonably good 
Champagne. Plain old sparkling wine won’t cut it. 

Since this is an auspicious occasion, it is a good time to invite your friends to witness and to 
party. 

Begin by invoking the name of the ruler of the deep as follows: 

Oh mighty and great ruler of the seas and oceans, to whom all ships and we who 
venture upon your vast domain are required to pay homage, implore you in your 
graciousness to expunge for all time from your records and recollection the name (here 
insert the old name of your vessel) which has ceased to be an entity in your kingdom. 
As proof thereof, we submit this ingot bearing her name to be corrupted through your 
powers and forever be purged from the sea. (At this point, the prepared metal tag is 
dropped from the bow of the boat into the sea.) 

In grateful acknowledgment of your munificence and dispensation, we offer these 
libations to your majesty and your court. (Pour at least half of the bottle of Champagne 
into the sea from East to West. The remainder may be passed among your guests.) 

It is usual for the renaming ceremony to be conducted immediately following the purging 
ceremony, although it may be done at any time after the purging ceremony. For this portion of 
the proceedings, you will need more Champagne, Much more because you have a few more 
gods to appease. 

Begin the renaming by again calling Poseidon as follows: 

Oh mighty and great ruler of the seas and oceans, to whom all ships and we who 
venture upon your vast domain are required to pay homage, implore you in your 
graciousness to take unto your records and recollection this worthy vessel hereafter and 
for all time known as (Here insert the new name you have chosen), guarding her with 
your mighty arm and trident and ensuring her of safe and rapid passage throughout her 
journeys within your realm. 

In appreciation of your munificence, dispensation and in honor of your greatness, we 
offer these libations to your majesty and your court. (At this point, one bottle of 
Champagne, less one glass for the master and one glass for the mate are poured into 
the sea from West to East.) 

The next step in the renaming ceremony is to appease the gods of the winds. This will assure 
you of fair winds and smooth seas. Because the four winds are brothers, it is permissible to 
invoke them all at the same time, however, during the ceremony; you must address each by 
name. 

Begin in this manner: 

Oh mighty rulers of the winds, through whose power our frail vessels traverse the wild 
and faceless deep, we implore you to grant this worthy vessel (Insert your boat’s new 
name) the benefits and pleasures of your bounty, ensuring us of your gentle 
ministration according to our needs. 

(Facing north, pour a generous libation of Champagne into a Champagne flute and fling 
to the North as you intone:) Great Boreas, exalted ruler of the North Wind, 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. 

(Facing west, pour the same amount of Champagne and fling to the West while 
intoning:) 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. 

(Facing east, repeat and fling to the East.) 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. 

(Facing south, repeat, flinging to the South.) 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. 

Of course, any champagne remaining will be the beginnings of a suitable celebration in honor of 
the occasion. 

Once the ceremony has been completed, you may bring aboard any and all items bearing the 
new name of your vessel. If you must schedule the painting of the new name on the transom 
before the ceremony, be sure the name is not revealed before the ceremony is finished. It may 
be covered with bunting or some other suitable material.

That'll do it!
VVG as Bridget Jones might say.

Going back to a previous comment, the Royal Navy has frequently changed the names of ships over the years, and sometimes of entire classes of ships, even up to the present day.  For example, the current HMS Ark Royal was intended to be called "Indomitable", but was renamed just before launching because of the success of the 70s TV program "Sailor" set on the previous ship of the name. HMS Endurance was previously HMS Polar Explorer, and was re-named after 5 years in service. The RFA is probably the worst though - all of their "Leaf" class tankers were bought from merchant oil companies and re-named, RFA Diligence was previously Stena Inspector, and RFA Fort Grange was renamed Fort Rosalie because it sounded too similar to RFA Fort George when abreviated in signal trafic! However, to my knowledge, none of the ships named above has had a reputation for being unlucky, and all of them are still afloat and in service.

All were re-named with due  ceremony though except the first which as never Christened as it were.