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ben373 · 27-01-2015, 15:06

I am the father of the groom this Saturday at my sons wedding to a girl he met through sailing (racing). I will be making a speech and thought I might use nautical themes in the advice part..

So I am turning to my friends here for any terms you think may work. As background my son Lance has recently completed Sydney to Hobart race (says he will never do it again) and will be sporting a broken wrist. He is marrying Nandi at Joana's Whale Beach Sydney.

What I have so far..
Chart Your Course for a long and safe voyage.
The best captain is one who keeps his crew smiling.

I hope I have not barged in on this thread but Seamanship and boat handling seemed the most appropriate forum section.

Matt

Cheechako · 27-01-2015, 15:21

Take care of your Wench/winch (s)!

NoShoes · 27-01-2015, 15:33

Something about being SPLICED to THE BITTER END?

A little Pirates Caribbean for inspiration, from Captain Barbossa

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mvenEcIHw8E

NoShoes · 27-01-2015, 15:56

Dearly beloved, rogues, scoundrels, roustabouts, privateers, pirates, and even urchins, we have come together tonight to witness the partnering of Captain______and Miss ___________...and, let's be honest, for free food and drinks.

Captain___________, Miss____________, you are entering into a commitment born of love. Before these witnesses you are joining together, creating a union that involves both joy and responsibility. You must enter into your partnership with no lien on either of your ships or crew, free of other commitments.

Bring forward the sword!
Do you both swear on this sword that there is no reason why your union cannot proceed?
Miss_______: I swear it.
Captain_____: As do I.
[To Captain_______] What is your full name and rank? Replies: Captain of the S/V _________
What do you desire?

Captain_______: To love and protect this lady for the rest of my days as her partner.

Will you have this woman as your partner? Will you love her, comfort her, and honor her? Will you protect her, no matter who might board your ship and attempt to wrest her from you, as long as you both do love?
Captain_________: Aye.

[To Miss________] What is your full name and rank? Replies: Miss_______a loyal member of the crew of the S/V__________,

What do you desire? ["Never to tame this Captain, but to hold him dear as my partner."]

Will you have this man as your partner? Will you love him, comfort him, and honor him? Will you protect him, no matter who might board your ship and attempt to wrest him from you, as long as you both do love? [Aye.]

[To audience:] A marriage is more than two people. It is also the trusty crew that surrounds them and helps them. Captain_______, Miss_______ partnership will be blessed by your support. All who would provide that support, say "Arr!" [Arr!]
Captain: I, Captain__________ take ye, Miss_______ as me Heart, me Soul, me Good Wench with a stout bottle-swingin' arm, as the bright dawn of each new day and as the satin sheets of each day's night. I promise to love ye and honor ye; to make ye laugh when yer feelin' out of sorts and pretend to listen to ye when ye babble on and on about nothin' in particular. I shall protect ye from the elements and the elephants should we ever encounter them (as it is my understanding that they can be very large and unpredictable, especially when ridden by mad Carthaginian generals). I shall love thee through scurvy and through fire, in wealth or poverty whether ye be near or far. And when I speak of treasure, as I am wont to do, everyone within the sound of me voice shall know that which I am really speaking about is you. All of this will I undertake until there are no horizons left to chase and the rum is gone.

Miss_______: I, Miss_________ take ye, Captain________ as me Heart, me Soul, me Salty Jack with a crooked smile, the foggy haze of each new day and the lumpy (but familiar) mattress of each day's night. I promise to love ye and honor ye; to make ye laugh so hard the rum comes out yer nose and pretend to listen to ye when ye babble on about nothin' in particular. I will protect you from my wrath and from giraffes which I understand are very tall and will sometimes step on people because they are not looking where they are stepping. I will love thee through scurvy and through fire, in wealth or poverty whether ye be near or far. And when I speak of treasure, as I am wont to do, everyone within the sound of me voice will know that I am day dreaming again. All of this will I undertake until there are no horizons left to chase and the rum is gone.

I found these vow searching the web, they might help.

ben373 · 27-01-2015, 16:26

Thanks so much - I would love to go to a wedding where this happened - be fun swinging from the gantries, downing rum... think I will use it next time I get married.

However, this is traditional and just my part of the speech.

Captain Blue · 28-01-2015, 09:06

Don't forget the toast. Something to think about, example: My family has always raised our (full) glasses high, then the speaker would say " To all the sailors that have come and gone" which at that time everyone would drink from their glass, then raise them high again. The speaker would then say
" To this new crew (s/v name and name of couple including any kids) to sail on" which at that time everyone would drink from their glass then raise then high again. Then the speaker would say " To all of us sailors here to sail on with them in stormy seas and fair winds" and at that time everyone would down what was left in their glasses adding load noises of joy. done.

I so wish them all the very best of luck in rough seas and calm days. I also hope you will video tape it and pass it on to CF to see how many of us old rusty salts cry. Any bets?

W3GAC · 28-01-2015, 09:40

Well here are a few (sappy) fragments that came to mind as I finished my coffee. My best to the bride & groom. (In this era of marital equality, might want to be careful with the term 'captain.' Might start a discussion best not had...

... As they plot a new course together
we wish them fair winds and calm seas

...Make everyday a new adventure together... a journey left to an unattended autopilot soon runs aground

... And remember, in life, as in sailing, you sometimes have to use tack to get you where you want to go

... To cross an ocean, the team has to work together

... And a little rough water builds character and may actually get you where you want to be faster

...and whether you're beating hard into the wind or wing & wing... it's not the final destination in life... because we all end up at the same end point eventually... it's the journey and the waypoints that count

... It's not how you tie the knot... it's whether it holds

... One of the hardest knots for anyone to tie right is the marital knot... because it's the one knot that shouldn't ever come untied

Sent from my iPhone using Cruisers Sailing Forum

**nigel1** · 28-01-2015, 09:58

Don't forget the
"permission to lay alongside" bit

boden36 · 28-01-2015, 15:43

And keep a firm grip on his tiller!

Regards,
Richard.

Oceandeep · 28-01-2015, 18:49

Check out the Wedding Crashers movie. In the first wedding the Bride and Groom exchange vows along a nautical theme. Now that I think of it probably an example to avoid duplicating!

ben373 · 29-01-2015, 13:29

Thanks so much to everybody;

I especially like..

... And a little rough water builds character and may actually get you where you want to be faster

...and whether you're beating hard into the wind or wing & wing... it's not the final destination in life... because we all end up at the same end point eventually... it's the journey and the waypoints that count

... It's not how you tie the knot... it's whether it holds