Christening Makara
September 24, 2007
Boats, whether they are huge or small, warships or pleasure craft, have moments of great and solemn significance in their lifetimes. The first for any vessel is when her keel is “laid”. For Makara, the equivalent of this was when the fiberglass of her hull started to be layed up last August.
The next significant day is often depicted in newsreels when a vessels hull is lauched into the water with great fanfare and what can be best described as a civil christening. Usually the wife of some dignitary pounds away at the hull trying in vain to break a bottel of champagne. Afterward the vessel is finished “feet wet”. Today, even large vessels are virtually completely fitted before their first taste of water, and Makara was no different. So the champagne bottle had to wait. The next stage, and an especially important day for military ships, is when they are fully commissioned. Finally, the most solemn and often saddest day is when a vessel is decommissioned.
Saturday September 22nd was a milestone day for Makara, she was officially unveiled to a large crowd of close family and friends and properly christened in the finest of old traditions. Since she is also effectively "commissioned", procedures similar to those a ship undergoes were also administered. This was an all day affair and no swabby nor landlubber was allowed to go away without ample rations, grog and good times!
To insure good fortune, there are traditions surrounding boats that must be obeyed when they are christened. The ceremony introduces the vessel, by name, to appropriate deities and guests. Before the christening begins, it is important that no item on the vessel is inscribed with the name and any permanent artwork must be covered until the proper point in the ceremony. Ample champagne is also required, not only for the guests, but also for Poseidon and his court. Certain talismans and symbols have to be gathered and a feast arranged for all once the ceremony is complete.
For Makara's christening there were over 30 people present from all parts of the country who graciously came to Annapolis on an unseasonably hot day to help us do our lady proud. You see, it is important to affirm oneself to your vessel in front of those who will hold you too your pledge, as she affirms herself to you. Before the ceremony, someone remarked that the event we staged seemed like a wedding. In a way it was a formal bonding at the boats “coming out” between her and her crew.
The ceremony proceeded in several parts. The full script of the christening is available (here) and follows the traditional form likely derived from Greek myth and lore, hence the Greek names for the relevant gods of the sea and wind. We first introduced each of our guests and how they related to the ceremony. This was for the benefit of Makara so she would know those before her participating in the festivities. Next we spent some time relating relevant quotes from literature appropriate for setting the stage. Both Joshua Slocum and the Water Rat from ‘Wind in the Willows’ provided proper words to set the mood. At this point the air was tense with excitement for the moment had come for the formal rites to begin.
The first christening rite purified and blessed the boat with the four elements: earth, fire, air and water. Our daughter Christan did the honors of leading this phase. No, we did not torch the boat a'la Viking style, as that would have been bad form and gotten too much attention from the harbor police. We were getting quite enough attention as it was. The christening was in Spa creek right at the end of the docks in full view of the Annapolis mooring field with the Naval Academy as a backdrop across the creek. Talk about location! During the course of the ceremony, as vessels glided by, other sailors could be seen gawking at the festivities.
As the rite commenced, fire was represented by a candle, air by incense, water by well water (a safe one there) and the earth by salt. The vessel was circled clockwise on deck by each to invoke the blessing. Keep in mind that, by tradition, Makara’s name was not mentioned until these rituals began.
The second christening rites were quite important as they introduced the vessel to Poseidon and his court, particularly the wind gods (who could have guessed). One thing a sailor knows is you don’t want to irritate the big guy of the sea so it is definitely a good idea to fit him into the program. Besides he likes champagne and boy did he get it!. First the wind gods were invoked to grant us safe passage and spare us their forceful blasts. We negotiated that up to Force 10 would be just fine and welcome but to limit or forgo anything much bigger than that . Each god, there are four, one each for each major compass point, got a generous glass of champagne compliments of my brother Michael who officiated this part of the ceremony.
Ol’ Poseidon himself was formally introduced to Makara and proceeded to quaff an entire bottle of bubbly. To insure he got his fill, the champage was poured on both the bow and the stern of the vessel. As I said we didn’t want this guy to be pissed off. All then joined in champagne toasts and a mighty chant and triple “Hazzuh” was heard across the entire Annapolis roadstead. We had a vocal and hearty group of swabs on hand indeed.
The next phase paid homage to both ancient and modern traditions associated with commissioning of vessels but which integrate nicely with a christening. A bough of leaves was deposited on the bow of the boat by our granddaughter Meghan (all of three years old and wearing her required bright orange PFD). The foilage was to guarantee safe return to land. Our mother then proceeded to break the traditional bottle of champagne on the bow of the vessel (on the heafty stainless steel windlass... close enough).
Next the boats name was unveiled for all to see, the Makara logo beautifully rendered on the hull. The ships colors, to this point never displayed, were unfurled at the stern by an active duty member of our armed forces (Air Force as all the Navy types were occupied at the Academies season home opener against Duke... Navy won).
Finally, and very importantly, the ships bell was unveiled and carried on board and rung once. This is more significant than most realize as the bell is also the last thing to be removed from a ship being decommissioned at which time it is rung eight times. When our adventures with Makara come to a close, hopefully many years hence, we will do the same.
At this point the christening of Makara was complete. The designers and builders of Makara then said some words about the vessel and how she was conceived, designed and built. We followed with a quick overview of some of the possible places she might be found in the next several years. At long last she was opened to inspection by all at hand.
It was a very fine ceremony. All were happy, as they should have been after consuming a full case of the finest American champagne (J. Schram) between the whole lot! Finally, we retired to the Chart House, only a few steps away, fortunately, from the christening dock for more drinks! And finally a sumtuous feast for all.
As befits the day, the captain and mate spent that night together on Makara for the first time. Giddy with the excitement of the day, sleep came slowly, but then Makara gently rocked us to sleep.
The crew of Makara would like to express our personal gratitude to Beth, Mike, Carolyn, Teddy, Julie, Marsha, Christan, Matt, Meghan, Sarah, Justin, Vanessa, Tamara, Rick, Mikhala, Lynn, Steve, Cherie, Pat, Tony, Michael, Sharon, Eric Carson, Graham, Joan, Barbara, Robert, Nancy and Thom for joining us on a magical day.
"No rum was harmed during the performance of this christening."