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'Charbonneau' -- What's in the Name?
2/27/01
Janet Parks
Boat names are very important to
sailors and there is a lot of superstition behind them as well.
Many people choose boat names with great meaning behind it.
When you are cruising you essentially become your boat name.
You use your boat name to identify yourself on the VHF radio, make
reservations anywhere in the boating arena and you are always remembered
by other cruisers by your boat name, not usually your first names.
It becomes a big part of your identity.
There are also many superstitions
about boat names. One is that
you should not rename a boat. So
many people “inherit” the boat name when they buy a used boat.
If you do rename it, then a renaming ceremony is supposed to by
done by the new owners which includes removing everything from the boat
with the old name on it and performing a ceremony which includes
sacrificing expensive alcohol to the gods of wind, water, and sky.
So with our first boat (which was used) we did perform this
ceremony after she was renamed, using our best champagne.
And, when we bought a new boat, we also christened her with this
same ceremony. Both boats
have been named “Charbonneau”, so essentially our current boat is
“Charbonneau II”, but the “II” is silent and invisible…we
decided to stay with “Charbonneau”.
Why did we name her
“Charbonneau”? This is a question we are asked quite often, both by other
cruisers as well as by emails and guestbook entries from people who have
found our website. Some have
found the website by searching on the word “Charbonneau”, since that
is their last name and they are curious to see what they can find about
the name. Our normal quick
answer to this question is that I (Janet) promised to marry Blaine and
take his name in marriage if the boat had my maiden name on it…which is,
of course, “Charbonneau”. But
“Charbonneau” also has hidden meanings to it.
I was once told that an interpretation of “Charbonneau” meant
“sparkling water”. Yet it
has an adventurer history as well. My
heritage was traced back to Toussaint Charbonneau who married Sacajawea.
Sacajawea was the Indian woman who helped lead the Lewis and Clark
expedition. So with these two
representations of “Charbonneau”, our boat represents our adventure
out on the sparkling waters of the oceans.
Blaine believes that every boat should have a poem or song to tell her story
- here's his version for our girl Charbonneau :
Charbonneau -A
Ship's Poem
by Blaine Parks (1997)
Her name may perplex you
and appear difficult to say
Yet, read on my friend
and hear me this day
Her name is quite fitting
this I will show
But first, where are my manners
welcome aboard Charbonneau
She carries my dreams
with each adventure embarked
Just as her namesake was there
with those great explorers, Lewis and Clark
Her name also has meaning
when divided in two
"Sparkling water"
is what she'd tell you
Charbonneau cradles me
safely
with a compass so true
Expanding our horizons
over oceans of blue
She feeds my desire
my spirit, my life
Yes, I speak of this fine vessel
but also of my wife
Alas, I have deceived
you
with this mariner's rhyme
But I'm sure you'll forgive me
all in due time
So, let's have a rum punch
and talk of the sea
May God bless you all
as He's doubly blessed me.
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