: Here's a suggestion: Mark 4:37 - "And there arose a fierce gale of wind,
: and the waves were breaking over the boat so much that the boat was
: already filling with water."

: Unfortunately, there's no mention in vs. 38 about rolling.

: Happy launching,

: Ross

Julie:

The book of Jonah probably has some nice quotes, too.

The story of Noah would probably be a great source for lines about building a boat, but the best version of this is probably the old comedy routine done by Bill Cosby. Assuming you could find those old LP records, the trick would be finding someone who still had a workable tuntable to play them on.

Seriously though, there are several areas in the world where Catholic and/or Orthodox priests regularly bless the boats -- sometimes before a major race, or they bless the fishing fleet at the start of the season. I'm not sure if Anglicans do, also, but I believe that the British fleet has been blessed by clergy from the Church of England since the beginnings of that faith. If the appropriate prayers are recorded in another liturgy then a short interfaith meeting with a few other local clergymen (or clergywomen) might point you in a fruitful direction. Boats at launch are "Christened", so I suspect the ceremony is similar to the naming of a child at a Christening (or baptism) ceremony. I have been unable to find any reference to such practices, blessings or prayers in the Jewish faith.

Umm, a funeral director and a coroner BOTH coming to the launch? Is there some public perception that you might need their services?

NEVER try to break a bottle of champagne over the bow of a wood boat. You'll dent the boat, or worse. Opening the bottle of champagne horizontally, so that the cork hits (and bounces off of) the hull, while a spray of bubbly dampens the bow, is a suitably noisy event.

Be careful with the coffee. If you make it as strong as I suspect, it may etch through the hull.

Happy launching. send pictures.

Paul g. Jacobson