S/V Melelani, I36

[CapnK]

Yep, I finally did it - she has a new name. :) Assuming, of course, that the paperwork I get back from the USCG is all OK.

Formerly "Esprit". I just didn't like it, for some reason. Didn't seem "right" - you know how it is. So I drew up a short list of possibles:

"Laniakea" (lon-ee-a-kay-a), means 'immeasureable heaven' (& also the name of our galactic local supercluster).
"Pneuma" (new-ma) - "breath of life, spirit, soul".
"Kanoa" (kah-no-ah) - "the free one".
"Melelani" (may-leh-lonny), "song of the heavens/sky".
"Ka'aukai" (kah-aew-kye) - "seafarer".

Of these, I liked the last 2 best, because they were both fitting, and because no other Documented boats have those names. All the others are in use. BUT...

I wasn't sure how to pronounce the last one, so I sent an email to the Dept of Hawaiian Language at University of Honolulu, lol. Got a response from a cute young lady there, and called her. We talked a bit and she explained it to me, and then I told her it was that or Melelani, she asked why I liked Melelani. I explained the feelings/experience of when you turn off the motor and the boat keeps going, moving rhythmically through the sea and sky, a sort of song of movement...

And so she was like "Ah!" and liked it better in context, and that kind of jived. The seafarer name is non-gender, can be M or F, but Melelani is more female, and as boats traditionally are, well... so she is. :)

Anyway, after these few months now of living aboard and making some small improvements and changes here and there, she's now paid off, and the motor is running nicely, and so we are almost ready to leave the dock for the first time.

This AM I took the main off of her - the fabric itself is in good to great shape, but it is nasty dirty. Mud dauber nests and dead cockroaches and waterstains and such, from probably 10 years of being on the boat and not raised. Sheets and halyards are soaking in soapy water, and I'll work on cleaning the sail the next few days. Next weekend is the target date for the first trip, a day of sailing and then anchoring out for the night or two...

Feels good. :)

[s/v Faith]

Congrats Kurt, can't wait to read of your adventures!

[Frank]

Glad you're close to an outing!!
Will be nice to "swing at anchor" ...not bump a dock...
Pictures and sailing report!!! Wanna know how she feels under sail???

[Bob J (ex-misfits)]

"Melelani" (may-leh-lonny), "song of the heavens/sky".

Nice name!