At Last! christened at last

What a great time we had when our extended family and best friends gathered at Port Whitby Marina to christen our TomCat!

We invited godsons Kris Holdenried and Michael Powell (left and right in the photo centre) to help us formally christen At Last! Here's the prayer we used:

Captain: Almighty God, who guided Noah in the building of an Ark, and calmed the raging sea,
Kris: We call upon you to bless those who have prepared this vessel for service, and to bless all who are present for this christening
Mike: We call upon you to protect and preserve those who sail in her, and surround them with your loving care.
Admiral: I hereby christen this vessel . . . At Last!

Heck, it was just like a Formula One podium after a GP with champagne spraying everywhere! To be truthful, it was our favorite cava, and the spray was directed at the name on the hull.

After the ceremony, a traditional Baltic buffet prepared by Chef Ingo at the Latvian Centre was laid out for our 42 guests who devoured the salmon two ways, smoked white fish, sauteed sole, marinated herring, smoked turkey, pastrami, salami, marinated mushrooms, great rye bread with unsalted butter, salads this way and that way, piragi perfectly shaped and baked by dear friend Ive, and enough sweets to make your mouth water at every remembrance for weeks and months to come. Thank you, Kristine, for the extraordinary butter tarts and squares, and Marty, for the splendiferous chocolate cake.

Later, we opened At Last! for tours, and with the co-operation of Captain Mick Flynn, we were able to offer harbour cruises on Coho Connection, his vintage Chris-Craft.

A good time was had by one and all. We enjoyed putting the celebration together as much as our guests enjoyed partaking in the festivities.