Crossing the Equator

At around 7AM on November 19th, SY Segwun and crew crossed the equator. We'd had our sights on it for a few days and were eagerly anticipating the "crossing". That morning, As we watched the GPS and looked out to sea searching for that invisible line, our Captain was getting in touch with King Neptune using the VHF radio to inform him that three virgin souls were about to cross the equator.

Just after we passed over the equator, much to our surprise, out of the cockpit comes, not the Captain, but King Neptune himself complete with crown, cape and trident. He had a big blustery voice, striking the fear into us. 'Who were we to cross the equator and what did we want?", he demanded of us. We asked for safe passage, calm seas and good fishing. He agreed but only if we in turn swore oaths not to "piss against the wind, or whistle behind the mast". He then proceeded to baptize us.

Christian went first and Neptune said he had heard from the captain that Christian was always asking questions, and many that the captain himself couldn't answer, so Neptune christianed him 'Christian the Curious' pouring salt water over his head.

Next Anna had to kneel before Neptune and the Captains' complaint was that Anna was always so quick to leave the boat once we had reached a port that he felt she didn't enjoy being on the ship. So Neptune baptized her 'Anna the Explorer' as he poured salt water over her head.

Even the Captain's wife and first mate did not escape the ritual. The Captain's complaint to Neptune was that at night I spent more time gazing at the stars than watching the sea. Neptune baptized me 'Evelyn the Star Watcher' and I too had salt water poured over my head.

With the ceremony over Neptune vanished back into the cockpit and I assume back into the depths of the sea. Thankfully, our Captain reappeared and with him he had our Baptism certificates documenting the event from Neptune. Mine says; "I, Neptune, King of the seven ocean hereby confirm that this day seafarer and crew member of the magnificent SY SEGWUN, Evelyn Rasmussen, has crossed the Equator and has been baptized in my name, she shall from here on be known on the seven seas as Evelyn the star-watcher."

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