Half way there

The Volvo Ocean Race leaders are round Fernando de Noronha

Tony Kolb reports on the Equator Crossing ceremonies aboard illbruck

King Neptune and Queen Codfish have been on board illbruck today. Four of us Ian Moore, Richard Clarke, Jamie Gale and myself hadn't crossed the equator before so we had to get 'done'.

It started all quite nicely. King Neptune and Queen Codfish came on board and we had to get out of our bunks and up on the rail. King Neptune (in the form of Stu Bettany) was wrapped in a purple silk liner with a crown made out of a frieze dried meal bag. He welcomed us into his waters in big words through his red beard. But he also brought with him a little list of crimes, so one after the other had to go down to the leeward rail on his knees and got done by Queen Codfish (Dirk de Ridder).

For each single crime she cut a handful of hair. Soapy (Ian Moore) went first. He tried to fight, but had no chance and was tied up with a sail tie. A good lesson for the rest of us. Queen Codfish had also made up a wonderful brew from freeze dried meals, a left over flying fish that accidentally crashed on deck and so on. Everybody got a little taste of that, while she spilled the mixture all over our heads and faces. After Soapy they did Richard Clarke, me and Jamie Gale the same way. I'm happy to have this not very nice part of ocean racing behind me and look forward to be King Neptune on my next equator crossing. Kevin Shoebridge tells of Neptune's arrival onboard Tyco

We finally crossed the equator this evening and Neptune's ceremony has just concluded. The three guys onboard who had not crossed the equator before, (Rob Salthouse, Guy 'Nipper' Salter and David Endean) all took their punishment well. The only disappointing part was, they didn't put up much of a fight, and went like lambs to the slaughter.

Damian Foxall was Neptune and his queen Jono Swain assisted. I was appointed executioner. All received fashionable haircuts. Spray glue was added to give the wind blown look then doused down with a flying fish broth. All good stuff, needless to say they needed immediate washing down afterwards.
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