The Lightning Boat Grant program is going strong in its 20th year! Read about the history of the program and see all 56 teams in its 20-year history. This year four teams were awarded nearly new boats, sails, trailers, covers, and travel and regatta expenses.
Many people have donated to the program, including Sandra Peterson More, who is a major benefactor to honor the memory of her father Dave Peterson. Dave was a Class officer and world class sailor in the 60s, 70s, and 80s. Check out this member spotlight and also this memory of her father written by Sandra. To thank her for her contributions, a boat was named in honor of her father, with a ceremony held at the Helly Hansen Sailing World regatta in Marblehead in late July. If you didn’t attend, you missed a great regatta and a fun ceremony; be sure to make it next year. Rumors are Marblehead never has wind, but we have had five, one, nine, and seven races the last four years. Don’t blame us for one bad year!
Saturday after sailing in Marblehead, members of the Lightning class held a boat naming ceremony to christen 15619 as Tenacity. Sandra drove up from Niantic Bay Yacht Club (Fleet 85) in Connecticut to attend. Her friend from Connecticut, Chris Vann, a mentee of Sandra’s father Dave, also made the trip. They both helped out on the Race Committee on Saturday and got to watch and cheer as the Boat Grant team won the last race of the day. Some details from the ceremony, emceed by Bob Shapiro of Three Bean Salad fame, are below.
Poseidon, the Greek ‘God of the Sea’ and overseer of vessels was reputed to be a pretty temperamental guy. He kept a “Ledger of the Deep,” a list of every vessel travelling the seven seas. If your vessel wasn’t on the list, keep your PFD handy, because he didn’t have patience for rule breakers. Apparently, he was a bureaucrat.
We toasted Poseidon: “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. In grateful acknowledgement of your munificence and dispensation, we offer these libations to your majesty and your court. 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, I implore you in your graciousness to take unto your records and recollection this worthy vessel hereafter and for all time known as Tenacity, 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.”
We then placed a branch with green leaves on the bow of 15619, symbolizing good luck.
Next we appeased the four wind gods (more Greek mythology) by facing in each direction, and tossing them some champagne. We asked for calm seas, except sometimes we want great puffs and waves so we can surf and plane downwind (which we got on Sunday!). We all toasted each god together.
We faced north, threw some champagne (Okay, not champagne but sparkling cider) out of our flutes (cups) in that direction and said together, “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.”
We faced west and said, “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.”
We faced east, saying, “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.”
Finally, we faced south and said together, “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.”
(Perhaps we should have offered mouthwash to the gods.)
Tenacity is now officially on the Ledger of the Deep, so she can look forward to a lifetime of adventure with calm seas, good weather, and great memories. All ahead full. And full it was, as Tenacity won the last race Saturday before the ceremony and also the last race Sunday, finishing second overall in the regatta - Woo Hoo!
We presented Sandra and Mercedes with Tenacity burgees. Chris Vann toasted Mercedes, Lucas, and Peter. Then we all went off to the wild HHSW party (or drank grape juice, ate crackers, and went to bed early).
Huge thank you to Sandra for her very generous donations, to Chris and Sandra making the trip to Marblehead from Connecticut, to Mercedes and the team traveling up from New Jersey, and to all the sailors who helped make this happen.
See all of the photos and videos from the ceremony.