What’s in a Name? Coronado, Poseidon, and a Bottle of Champagne

Naming your boat is no small undertaking. People have funny names, sentimental names, nautical references, and everything in between. It is a very personal decision and one that is never taken lightly.

John and I started talking about boat names shortly after we decided we wanted to buy a boat someday. We had a running list. We wanted something meaningful, but also not multiple words or too much of a mouthful to spell out using the standard marine phonetic system – because you have to spell out your boat name a bit when you’re sailing. (Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, Delta…)

Coronado

Coronado came up early in our discussions.  It was one of those names that rose out of the creative ether. They just show up one day in your imagination, and they have a ring to them that just feels *right*. That is the way Coronado felt. It had meaning for us, being both a symbol of our home in San Diego, California, and also the first place John and I ever sailed together alone… just the two of us on the water. We rented a boat from Coronado Island and sailed around San Diego Bay together. The name Coronado means “crowned”, from the Spanish verb coronar – to crown. John and I both had images of a crown as part of the logo, the crown of the ocean. (We named our dingy Glorietta after Glorietta Bay, a little cove right off Coronado Island, and the first place we ever anchored overnight in a sailboat alone!)

At some point in our discussions, it just became clear that Coronado was the only name that truly felt right. We even had a logo created – part of keeping our dream alive while we saved and planned. We would sit and wonder out loud, “Where is Coronado right now, do you think? Where is she in the world?” We didn’t know then that we would end up buying a new boat, and that Coronado hadn’t been born yet!

Poseidon and the Ledger of the Deep

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. The boat christening ceremony is an important step that cannot be skipped. This is the moment when the boat is officially named and offerings are made to Poseidon and the ancient nautical gods governing the power of the four winds. 

John and I wanted to do the ceremony somewhere special. We took Coronado to a local island, Île de Re, for our first overnight anchor. It was a beautiful location. At sunset, we broke out the champagne and asked for blessings on our beautiful boat and to have the favor of the sea and the winds on our future voyages. 

There are many variations of boat naming ceremonies available online, and it’s also important that it be personally meaningful to those performing the ceremony, so I always encourage editing! Here is the ceremony we used:

We call to Poseidon, also known as Neptune, god and ruler of the Sea. We honor you and offer you our new vessel, Coronado. We ask that you know her and accept her record into the ‘Ledger of the Deep’.(Pour a generous amount of champagne into a champagne flute and pour it over the boat’s bow – in our case one for each of them!)

Oh Poseidon, 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. We ask if your favor and your protection of Coronado and those she carries across your oceans. In thanks for your graciousness to this request, we offer these libations to your majesty and your court. (Pour a generous amount of champagne into the champagne flute and pour it into the ocean.)

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, Coronado, the benefits and pleasures of your bounty. Ensuring us of your gentle ministration according to our needs.

(Facing north, pour a generous amount 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 heartfelt endeavors. Ever sparing us the overwhelming scourge of your frigid 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 heartfelt 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 scorching 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 heartfelt endeavors, ever sparing us the overwhelming scourge of your wild breath.

We ask for safe passage and blessings as we sail the oceans and live with the wind. Blessed be. 

Adapted from https://sailingaround.world/naming-ceremony/

It is then customary for the owners to share whatever champagne is left in a toast and/or open additional bottles to share with guests who may be on board.

In our case, John surprised me by taking the bottle, taking a sip directly from it and offering me the same (which was awesome), and then shaking it up Formula One style and spraying the champagne all over Coronado in celebration. It felt fitting in every way and I only wish I would have gotten a picture!!