boat

boat-building tradition right over here in Building J.”

Before the Ida May took to the water, Lindsey Echausse, a granddaughter of volunteer Bill Gyves, read a poem. Then the Rev. Mary Beth Mills-Curran, the curate of St. John’s Church in Cold Spring Harbor, performed the traditional blessing of the vessel.

Most important was the breaking of a bottle of champagne — or in this case, whiskey — on the boat’s hull for good luck. Ann Smith and Jennifer Laughlin, the widow and daughter, respectively, of the late Christeen Corporation founder Clint Smith, smashed the bottle with two firm swings.

The vessel was then slowly pushed into the water on the back of a trailer, while “My Mother Told Me,” a popular shanty song from the show “Vikings,” played. Waiting for its sister ship in the harbor, the Christeen fired blanks from a small cannon to celebrate the momentous event. Although the Ida May moved only partway down the dock — in the interest of making sure there are no leaks or other issues — it will soon carry visitors, educating them on the maritime history and ecology of Oyster Bay. Its operations will be managed by the WaterFront Center. Lindsay and the other members of the corporation said they looked forward to the next restoration project, whatever it may be.