Thrice blessed, the motor vessel Uncatena slid down the ways at Blout's shipyard in Warren, R.I., with the high tide on Sunday evening. After her fitting out, she will arrive at Woods Hole before long to join the rest of the Steamship Authority's fleet.

The triple blessing came during the christening ceremony, when not just the customary one bottle of champagne but three were smashed against the Uncatena's bow, each wielded by an Authority member's wife, the whole process making for an excess of bubbled and splintered glass.

As they swung their bottles, Mrs. Isaac C. Norton of Edgartown, Mrs. James H. Smith of Falmouth and Mrs. Alexander M. Craig Jr. of Nantucket, said, “I christen you Uncatena. God bless you.”

Strains of Anchors Aweigh

As the vessel slid smoothly down the ways, her whistle tooted and her rigging sported fluttering flags. The strains of Anchors Aweigh could be heard above the cheering of the spectators, of which there were about 200.

In that moment of glory, a gust of wind caught the new vessel's bow and swung her, and although the tide was high, the Uncatena's bow was lodged firmly on the bottom of the Bourne River.

A Coast Guard vessel and Blount's workboat soon had that embarrassing moment under control, after they had put lines on the Uncatena's stern and pulled her gently off the mud. She tooted her whistle triumphantly once more, and she was then tied up to a pier for further work.

About 200 guests had been invited to go to the home of Mr. and Mrs. Luther Blount a short distance away, where the Authority members cut a cake which was a frosted replica of the new vessel.