We took the boat out today to try out the spinnaker for the first time. (For you non-sailers, a spinnaker is a light wind sail.) It seems that the previous owners never used it, it looks brand new. We headed out into the bay, hooked up the spinnaker, hoisted the line, and PHOOMPH! (that's the sound it makes when the sail fills with air, well, it's supposed to, but we actually had a little phoomph). It's a beautiful sight! Except, there's a MONKEY on my sail!

As some of you know, the first owner of the boat named her Monkey Tails. To us, she seemed too classy to be called Monkey Tails, so we decided to rename her Oasis. We went through the whole ritual to change the name. First all references to the first name must be purged from the boat, not even a piece of paper can have the old name on it. Then the sacrifice to Poseidon, who likes the whole bottle of champagne (the Gods don't share), and not the cheap kind, which is poured over the bow of the boat. Then we waited 24 hours before the renaming ceremony, where another bottle of not cheap champagne is poured over the bow and words are recited. Then the new name can go on the boat, etc., etc., and you're good to go.

Well, when the sail opened up and we and looked up, there was this HUGE monkey on it! Now what do we do? We could have it taken off and something else put on, which would not be cheap. And technically, it's not a written "name", so can we get away with it? Maybe we'll just call the monkey "Oasis."