I learned at the christening ceremony Saturday for the Freedom-Class Littoral Combat Ship 27, or the future USS Nantucket, that breaking a bottle of sparkling requires considerable technical preparation, says an article published on Eagle Herald website.
Christening ceremony
The christening ceremony for U.S. Navy ships like the Nantucket involves the breaking of a bottle of sparkling wine across the ship’s bow. According to the BBC News, Queen Victoria initiated this tradition in 1891 when she smashed a bottle of sparkling wine against the newly christened HMS Royal Arthur.
Other alcohols—whiskey, wine, brandy—have christened ships in the past. People used sea water in the U.S. during prohibition. Sparkling wine became popular at the end of the 19th century and was used in the U.S. Navy for the first time in 1890 to christen the USS Maine.
Selection of the sparkling wine
The characteristic of importance for the selection of the sparkling wine for the christening is not its taste, but rather how easily the bottle will shatter.
Prior to the christening of Nantucket, engineers tested different brands to find the bottle that was optimally smashable. They ultimately chose Barefoot Bubbly, a wine from my home state of California, retail price $9.99. A chip was added to the bottle for further assurance that it would perform under pressure.
Woman to sponsor the new ship
The Secretary of the U.S. Navy (currently Thomas W. Harker) traditionally invites a woman to sponsor the new ship and break a bottle of sparkling wine on its bow during the christening ceremony. Polly Spencer, wife of the 76th Secretary of the U.S. Navy Richard V. Spencer, took on this task for Nantucket.
Spencer practiced breaking a bottle of Barefoot Bubbly before the christening. At the ceremony itself, she had a backup bottle, as well as a backup for the backup. Fortunately, she didn’t need either.
Armed with a pair of safety glasses and gloves, Spencer held the neck of the bottle and swung it like a baseball bat, and the sound of it shattering amplified through the speakers. The technical preparation paid off in theatrics.
Summary
- The christening ceremony for U.S. Navy ships like the Nantucket involves the breaking of a bottle of sparkling wine across the ship’s bow.
- Other alcohols—whiskey, wine, brandy—have christened ships in the past. People used sea water in the U.S.
- Prior to the christening of Nantucket, engineers tested different brands to find the bottle that was optimally smashable.
- The Secretary of the U.S. Navy (currently Thomas W. Harker) traditionally invites a woman to sponsor the new ship and break a bottle of sparkling wine on its bow during the christening ceremony.
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Source: eagle herald
