Over the line

3 June 2025

Over the line

This trip is special in more ways than one…. We have already spent a few unforgettable days on Ascension, where no official is allowed ánd we will spend a few weeks at sea together. But something else special happened last night because at 03:03 we crossed the equator! The wildest stories were going around about that crossing and since it was very dark and there was little wind, we hoped to cross to the northern hemisphere without being noticed by the ruler of the oceans. Our plan seemed to have worked, for neither Neptune nor any of his deputies showed up to put us on trial. All morning we felt that we had managed to avoid the trial, until we all sat around the table for lunch and heard loud pounding and shouting on deck! Neptune was indeed not very amused that we had tried to fool him.

In the afternoon we all underwent Neptune’s trials and tribulations, and after demonstrating our sea legs in a game of the traditional Dutch sport Spijkerpoepen, each of us got the chance to go under the line. Since we had already crossed the equator, we had to demonstrate our limbo dancing skills under the line. After we passed, we all met the fearsome barber, and some of us had to sacrifice some or all of our hair. Finally, we were all baptized and given permission by Neptune to continue our journey through his kingdom. With a celebratory drink and certificate in hand, we can now proudly say, We are all honorable members of the Order of Shellbacks!