My Pa het vanoggend van die Cristina D af laat weet dat hulle vanaand oor die ewenaar gaan vaar en hy het gewonder of Neptunus aan boord sal kom…..
Ek het nie die storie geken nie en het toe gaan soek. Ek dink nie met net sewe man aan boord sal Neptunus besoek aflê nie. My pa moet in elk geval reeds ‘n “Trusty Shellback” wees, want hy het in 1953 suid oor die ewenaar gevaar toe hy en sy gesin per boot na Suider Afrika gereis het en as ek reg onthou het hy in 1981 met ‘n boot gevaar van Nederland af. Ek wonder nou hoe naby hy aan “Emerald Shellback” gekom het. Met die vaart in 1953 sou die skipper maklik vir die Greenwich lyn kon mik met die kruising. Ek sal hom tog vra….
Die “line-crossing” seremonie is meer van toepassing op oorlogskepe en van die mooiste amptelike sertifikate word uitgereik (kliek gerus en lees die besondere bewoording). Ek het ook afgekom op blogs van mense wat op plesierbote en ander maritieme vaartuie aan seremonies deelgeneem het.
Ek het hierdie uit Wikipedia gehaal…
The English-speaking seafaring tradition maintains that all sailors who cross the equator during a nautical voyage must undergo rites of passage and elaborate rituals initiating them into The Solemn Mysteries of the Ancient Order of the Deep. These rituals date back to the Middle Ages, though the current ceremonies are most likely derived from Viking traditions. Those who have never “crossed the line” are derisively referred to as “pollywogs” or simply “slimy wogs”. Upon entering the domain of His Royal Majesty, Neptunus Rex, all wogs are subject to various initiation rituals performed by those members of the crew who have made the journey before. Upon completion of the initiation ceremony, the wogs are then known as “Trusty Shellbacks”. If the crossing of the equator is done at the 180th meridian, the title of “Golden Shellback” is conferred, recognizing the simultaneous entry into the realm of the Golden Dragon. If the crossing occurs at the Greenwich or Prime Meridian, the sailor is considered to be an “Emerald Shellback”.
I wish you safe passage, Trusty Shellback Oupa Henk! There are only a few weeks left to 11 June…
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