This is for everyone, not just for the superstitious. There are many old sea tales of those poor souls who have not paid their respects to the gods of the sea.

poseidon.jpg (19958 bytes)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. This extract is from Capt.Pat’s article on Nautical Know How

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New film coming out made by Disney, it’s going to be very interesting to see how it is accepted by the various people in the sport over here.

Enjoy the preview and lets hope we can enjoy the film as well, very soon…

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The defending America’s Cup Alinghi team showing their sense of humor with a section of cartoons on their team website.

Found on Scuttlebutt

CaptnTup

Cruising - New Luxury Gigayacht by Henri Boulanger-7925

Are the days of the super yacht coming to an end in the travel world?

Not likely, as there are many luxury yachts traversing the oceans and seas at any given time. Celebrities and other wealthy people love their time away from land in their personal yachts.

A new breed of luxury yacht is making an appearance on the horizon. This newly designed yacht is called the gigayacht. The gigayacht is an entirely new classification of yacht. WallyIsland is said to be the first of the gigayachts. Plans for WallyIsland include a 59 ft wide deck to accommodate the extensive garden area.

Luxury yachts, also known as super yachts, are expensive, privately owned yachts that are operated by a professional crew. Yachts are recreational boats used for leisure and relaxation. They generally start at 32-35 feet in length and increase from there. The term “mega yacht” usually refers to a yacht that is more than 100 ft in length. In order for a yacht to achieve “luxury” or “super” status, it must be at least 200 ft in length.

One of the most famous super yachts in the world is the super yacht owned by the Sheikh of Dubai. The Sheikh’s ‘Platinum’ is an impressive 525 feet long and powered by four 9000 horsepower diesel engines. The actual price tag of ‘Platinum’ has not been disclosed, but some estimate the price to be in excess of $300 million.

Another famous super yacht still under construction is that of Chelsea Football Club owner, Roman Abramovich. Upon completion, Abramovich’s yacht is rumoured to be 550 feet and an estimated 200 million sterling. The super yacht will have space for two helipads, a private cinema and a submarine. Abramovich currently owns a small fleet of luxury yachts widely known as ‘Abramovich’s Navy’.

Possibly the most famous of all super yachts is The Royal Yacht Britannia. Eighty-third in a royal line of yachts, Britannia proudly served the Royal family for 44 years. During its time, the yacht safely delivered The Queen and the Royal Family to 968 official destinations. The super yacht is now moored in the historic port of Leith in Scotland.

Now, the gigayacht isn’t the largest yacht ever made, but it is created to be the greenest. The main deck is designed with the comforts of your own floating estate in mind. The deck consists of a swimming pool, a beautifully landscaped garden and the foliage of your choice. The gardens will be kept healthy and green by an onboard irrigation system.

The extra-wide deck space gives the gigayacht a much larger feel than yachts nearly twice its length. A roomy 1,000 square meter deck space allows room for gardens, fountains and even outdoor sports. A comfortably large swimming pool also adorns the main deck.

The inside of the gigayacht will be just as impressive as the outside. The five accommodation decks include a saloon, dining room, library, cinema, and spa and fitness area. Sleeping quarters aboard WallyIsland include the owner’s suites and space for up to 40 crew members and 24 guests. As one would assume, the suites are rumoured to be spacious and comfortable. Many potential owners are likely to already own a yacht and Monaco property

The enormous fuel tanks hold 750,000 litres of fuel, giving the owner the opportunity to stay out of port for an amazing 15,000 nautical miles. This yacht comes fully equipped with everything one would need to maintain life on your own private floating island for five years.

The price tag associated with the gigayacht is expected to meet or exceed current luxury yacht prices. Don’t let the actual price disappoint or intimidate you. Although an official price has not been named to date, it is believed the gigayacht will remain under $200 million. This is a very competitive figure when compared to similar yachts.

The new yacht is being built in Monaco and yourmonaco.com has new photos of the Casino Square Gardens in Monte Carlo, the casino is the most famous in the world and now has to compete with online casino operators.

They also have for those visiting both Monaco and Paris new hotels in Paris France

Article Source: Hacked by mpu_gandring

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Luxury Yacht Charters - crewed sailing and motor charter yachts. by Ron Winston

There is nothing like a vacation aboard your own private Charter Yacht! If you have not chartered before, you are about to discover one of the best-kept travel secrets in the world: Chartering your own yacht is better than a vacation at an exclusive island resort. It’s better than being on a cruise ship, too. Combining the best of an exclusive resort with the best of a cruise ship with a higher level of personalized service.

It’s affordable as you want it to be, it’s not complicated, you don’t have to know anything about boats - and, most important, it’s a whole lot of fun!

The Experience

It’s like combining the best features of a cruise ship and a luxury resort. You’ll travel to a different, unspoiled destination each day with a degree of pampering and personal attention you may not have experienced before. Say good-bye to crowds, waiting in lines, and pre-set itineraries. This is your own private yacht, with a variety of amenities and water sports to enjoy at will, and a launch to take you ashore whenever you please.

Destinations
Worldwide destinations are yours to choose from.
Whether your choice is the Bahamas, Caribbean with its warm inviting sun and crystal-clear waters, the Eastern or Western Mediterranean steeped in history and culture, the splendor of the Pacific Northwest or New England, or an exotic destination in the Pacific or Indian Ocean… the World is Your Playground.

Service
Your professional crew will take care of all the details, so you can relax and unwind.
Your personal chef will plan each meal based on your specific requests. Your skipper will personally guide you to your chosen destination, knowing where to find the most secluded beaches, the quietest anchorages or the liveliest evening entertainment.

Activities
Many yachts offer a myriad of water sports. Scuba diving, snorkeling, kayaking, water-skiing, wakeboarding, fishing, windsurfing and jet-skiing are just a few of the many activities you may find at your disposal, and your captain and crew will be well-versed in operating this equipment and can offer instruction on many levels.
Activities are not limited to those found afloat, though. You will have ample opportunity to visit ashore to take part in shore side activities as well, just as you would be able to do should you stay in a hotel.

For more information or to plan you next luxury vacation click here http://www.charteryachtcollection.com

Article Source: Hacked by mpu_gandring

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This Email has been doing the rounds. Apparently there is too much to read for those down the other end. The patience level isn’t too brilliant as well.

Captn Tup

Great series of photos on the Volvo Ocean Race site of squeezing the Spanish Contender in the plane for it’s flight home after Farr have done their part toward this great race.

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