Our boat is nameless, she has no identity, she does not know who or what she is. What her dreams and aspirations are, or what she wants to be. It was not always this way, at one point she had a name “Evergleam” a fine name I’m sure, fitting for her previous owner, for her past. What about her future? If giving a fresh beginning a new start, what then, what should she be called?
We have owned our sailboat for a little over a year now. We have spent a great deal of time thinking and pondering over a name for our new home, our new place in this amazing world. A name that means something to us. Diligently working on a minor refit, upgrading her, finding room for some creature comforts on board. None of it needed but all of it welcomed. We thought that maybe a name would come to us while spending time with her, but to no avail.
So how do you name a sailboat?
Do you name her with a clever pun, a play on words? Something funny, memorable, a conversation starter. A way of letting others know how full of humor and life you are. That you are a couple of people who enjoy this adventure we call life. That you only take thing serious when the situation warrants it?
What about a character from mythology, Poseidon the god of the sea, Anemoi the gods of the wind? Or a mythical island, place, or idea? Or even a beloved character from your favorite book, movie, or play. What about a real place? Your favorite place to be, a wandering stream or a lake? A soaring mountain peak, a prominent place in your home town.
Maybe something spiritual, a state of being, or way of life. An idea of who you are or who you want to be. A state of mind and well being. A word, a name an expression that means something to you.
This is an expression of who you are as a human being, that everyone in the marina is going to read or hear on the vhf as you enter the country or harbor for the first time. It is your call sign when you run aground and need rescuing from the local Coast Gaurd. “Mayday Mayday Mayday, this is the sailing vessel ______ in need of assistance.” It is the last thing people read on the stern of your vessel as you sail out of the marina. The name people know you by. You will meet them again in some distant harbor in the future, they might not ever know your real name but they will remember you by your boat’s name.
So what name does our vessel deserve? Who does she want to be? Funny, good at puns, serious, spiritual, weird, normal, memorable. I hope that by spending more time with her, her name will be revealed.
Maybe it does not matter, after all, it is just a name.
The musings of a middle aged man~ Sam