In America, women became [...]]]> Ship launching ceremonies have been recorded as long ago as 3,000 B. C. Although modern ceremonies no longer include such ancient customs as animal sacrifice to the gods, the sentiment behind them is the same as in ages past: to officially name the ship and bless it on its voyages.

In America, women became the preferred sponsors of ships around the 1840s, charged with breaking a bottle of spirits over the bow. Champagne eventually became the libation of choice for its effervescence.

Local shipyards documented their ceremonies with photographs of the participants, leaving us a record not only of the massive machinery they produced, but also of the human ritual that made an appeal to forces beyond mere technology. A number of photographs of ship launchings can be found at the site Ladies Who Launch.

Miss Juliet Edith Greene, great-great granddaughter of William Bainbridge, sponsor, USS Bainbridge, June 12, 1920.

USS Bainbridge, 1920

Miss Juliet Edith Greene, great-great granddaughter of William Bainbridge, sponsor, USS Bainbridge, June 12, 1920. New York Shipbuilding Corporation, Camden, New Jersey.

This destroyer was named after William Bainbridge, a naval officer who commanded ships during the Barbary Wars and the War of 1812, and served as a commandant of the Philadelphia Navy Yard in the 1820s.

Independence Seaport Museum
New York Shipbuilding Corporation Collection
1967.310

What looks like a knockout show the Renwick Museum of American Crafts in DC. Matthias Piessnig using boat building techniques to produce some sculptural seating units. More images at his site here.

Start your boating season with this traditional Port Townsend regatta. Lots of fun prizes and wacky awards. Boats of all construction welcome!

Skippers Meeting at 9 am at the NW Maritime Center/Wooden Boat Foundation. Race starts at [...]]]>

Photo by Elizabeth Becker

Mark your calendars for the WBF Shipwright’s Regatta, this coming February 20th

Start your boating season with this traditional Port Townsend regatta. Lots of fun prizes and wacky awards. Boats of all construction welcome!

Skippers Meeting at 9 am at the NW Maritime Center/Wooden Boat Foundation. Race starts at 11:30 on Port Townsend Bay. Awards at the Shanghai Restaurant at 4:30. There will be a Racing, Cruising, and Inshore small boat class.

Here’s how to enter.

You may sign up at the skippers meeting, but early registration makes planning easier and is very much appreciated. You can download the application and release at www.woodenboat.org

Entry fee is only $10. Make your check out to the Wooden Boat Foundation and write “SW Regatta” and your boat name on it.

Send your check, the completed application and release to: Wooden Boat Foundation Attn: Regattas P.O. Box 82 Port Townsend, WA 98368

If you are CREW looking for a boat, or a CAPTAIN looking for crew, notify us with your name and phone and e-mail at: 2010regattas@gmail.com . We will circulate the list a few times before the race and at the skippers meeting so you can hook up with each other. Call

Kathy at 301-4938 for more information