Here in France, the ceremony of blessing and officially launching a boat or a ship is called its Baptism. It goes without saying that this term, also used for the solemn blessing of church bells, is taken in its analogical meaning, since only human beings can receive the Sacrament of Baptism properly speaking. So, when we talk of the Baptism of a boat, it is meant in this way. Properly speaking, it is the blessing and naming of the boat.
I was invited by some members of my family-in-law to bless a racing yacht that they had just restored by several years of painstaking work. The yacht, originally built in the 1930’s, neglected for many years and bought by its present owners, has been named Sophia, and lies at a sailing club on the Seine river near a town called Duclair, in the commune of Saint Pierre de Varengeville. She has not yet actually been launched, because some modifications still need to be done to the standing rigging and the yacht has no engine. The name has special meaning for me for several reasons: the profound influence of the Wisdom literature of the Scriptures in our spirituality, and the significance of the Divine Wisdom in the Christian tradition. The woman I married is called Sophie, and I named my own little dinghy Sophia. The coincidence brought me a considerable amount of pleasure. It is the second time I blessed a boat, and each time gave the same name – firstly my own, and then this graceful yacht.
The ceremony was simple, beginning with words of welcome from the president of the yacht club, the association that financed the restoration work and the local Mayor. I then gave my own address from a more specifically spiritual point of view, then blessed the boat using a beautiful Eastern Orthodox prayer, and finally sprinkled her with holy water. The Mayor then officially named the yacht and broke the bottle of champagne against a metal member of the boat’s trailer rather than running the danger of damaging the hull. The bottle exploded with a dull pop, and its contents soaked into the ground. Tradition was followed.
After all, Napoleon didn’t want clever generals but lucky generals. A boat needs to be lucky in winning regattas, and also coming into port safely every time. Wishing for luck though the prayer of bene-diction – well-saying – does not seem to be superstition, but that God’s grace and uncreated energy may remain with the skipper and crew, with the boat itself and on the sea or on whichever inland water the yacht is sailed.
Here are some pictures of the ceremony:
The Blue Flower 
Father Anthony,
Good to see and read about the Baptism of the Yacht ‘Sophia’ – a lovely, visual example of the need to respond to such requests in response to ‘faith and trust’ that God will protect those who sail the waters both offshore and inshore, and to see your good self in local ministry. I notice the sandals and bare feet, and I am thinking either Hot Day or an acknowledgement of the monastic ways! One thing I missed was a shot of Sophie, my regards to her please.
On a more serious note, these pictures and the story sum up what you have been writing about for some time – that our ministry as priests goes on regardless in this case with the simple pleasure of blessing a boat for the safe deliverance and use of – by invoking the Trinity on this lovely vessel.
Sorry to be slow on the uptake. I go into sandals and shorts from about March most years until about October. My wife who feels the cold wonders if I am human! Of course, I wear clerical dress for ministry, but I just didn’t bother with socks and shoes.
Sophie had things to do at home – for the Baptism of her niece the next day, the granddaughter of the man largely responsible for the association that restored the Sophia.
My ministry is simply one of being ready for any good work – the motto of the Norbertine Canons. So I bless boats and many other things.
Worthy event and a splendid vessel. May she soon be afloat as is her calling!
You can be sure that when they do put Sophia in the water, I’ll be right there to crew for the maiden voyage – or the “second maiden voyage” since she is on her second life. A second identical boat is being restored by the same association, and we hope to race the two boats against each other.
This reminds me of some scenes from “Le Petit Baigneur”…:)
She is rather a beauty!