Crossing the Equator

[garyfdl]

Originally Posted by Jim Cate

Well, were the subject warships engaged in those particular passages? If so, you are surely correct in saying the incremental cost was negligible.

And while those routes are not so likely for an American warship, and jilling about in the mid Pacific isn't such a common task, Navy vessels do spend a lot of time just hanging out (I'm told... no personal knowledge) so wh y not at 0/180?

But I still think it silly behavior! And I guess I will have to be satisfied with being a shellback and a golden dragon cause I'm not likely to be in that neighborhood again.

Jim

You're entitled to your opinion, no matter how wrong it is

Warships make these crossings while enroute, if time and circumstances permit. The USN is not running cruises so people can become Shellbacks, Golden Dragons, Bluenosers, etc.

As to just 'hanging out' that's a figure of speech. The US Navy's mission is to, in part, deter aggression and maintain freedom of navigation of the sea, for everybody. So, when we're 'just hanging out' in places like the South China Sea, Straights of Hormuz, off the coast of Somalia, it's partly to deter any 'bad actors' from interfering with international marine traffic.

(That doesn't mean we are the world's coast guard.)

(And you're welcome.)

[SeanPatrick]

For quite some time there have been Easter eggs in my spreadsheet for when your DR will take you across the Equator or across the date line from West to East.

[Lodesman]

Originally Posted by Jim Cate

And while those routes are not so likely for an American warship,

I think you underestimate the number of bilateral or multinational naval exercises that happen in Aussie waters. Given US carrier ports at Pearl Hbr and Everett, those routes are probable.

[Fleetwoodjack]

I wonder if anyone else has pictures of the purple line that marks the equator.
This was taken in May 2005 on my 3000 miles from Santa Barbara to Hiva Oa 28 day portion of my circumnavigation, which crossed the equator four times. Solo Sailors carry no witnesses, so, you just have to take my word for it.
https://www.cruisersforum.com/galler...&original=1&c=

I also have an anecdote about crossing the Date line, in a quote from my book "SoloMan" and it relates to the book's subtitle: "Alone at Sea with God and Social Security" : ". The French colony Wallis is, together with the other small island of Futuna the most western outpost of Polynesia, just before Melanesia.
 
I choose not to anchor in front of the main town, because it looks very exposed to the prevailing south easterly wind, and I pick a nice spot in the lee of Nukuatea or Ilot des Lépreux.
There lies one canoe on the beach. A local is gathering coconuts with his machete. It is already midafternoon, but just in case there might be an evening service, I ask the man if he knows the mass schedule for the church in the town, in Gahi. “Mais, non Monsieur”, only on Sundays. “But it is Sunday!” I answer. Now I get a strange look. It turns out that I have just passed the date line, which loops around these two small islands, just before 180 degrees east. I am now on the arbitrary east side of the date line. Thus, it is Monday and I totally lost my precious Sunday earlier in the day.
Well, there is no place to spend the money I had intended for the offering. I am now the only person on Lepers Island."

[newhaul]

Originally Posted by Fleetwoodjack

I wonder if anyone else has pictures of the purple line that marks the equator.
This was taken in May 2005 on my 3000 miles from Santa Barbara to Hiva Oa 28 day portion of my circumnavigation, which crossed the equator four times. Solo Sailors carry no witnesses, so, you just have to take my word for it. http://https://www.cruisersforum.com...0867_thumb.jpg

So gag harbor eh .
Got a Grady tiger cat moored there on private dock across from the tides

[cottonsail]

I crossed the line at 108 degrees east in 1966. I was aboard the USS Intrepid. We were returning home to the USA from Vietnam. Interestingly while the initiation was going on the flag being flown was the Jolly Roger (skull & crossed bones). The stars and stripes was nowhere to be seen.

[garyfdl]

Originally Posted by cottonsail

while the initiation was going on the flag being flown was the Jolly Roger (skull & crossed bones). The stars and stripes was nowhere to be seen.

Hoisting the 'Jolly Rodger' is part of the tradition.

Did not know they struck the ensign though.

[Fleetwoodjack]

Hello,

"Fleetwood" was moored at a private dock across from the "Tides" until 1993. I rented a cabin on the bulkhead from Phil Sloan. In this picture "Fleetwood I" in middle,(lost on the rocks of Tagomago near Ibiza in 2013) the white hull is number II, lost on a Cuban reef last year. The third hull went to B.C. last spotted near Campbell River. I like to own it again.
https://www.cruisersforum.com/galler...&original=1&c=

[newhaul]

Originally Posted by Fleetwoodjack

Hello,

"Fleetwood" was moored at a private dock across from the "Tides" until 1993. I rented a cabin on the bulkhead from Phil Sloan. In this picture "Fleetwood I" in middle,(lost on the rocks of Tagomago near Ibiza in 2013) the white hull is number II, lost on a Cuban reef last year. The third hull went to B.C. last spotted near Campbell River. I like to own it again.
https://www.cruisersforum.com/galler...&original=1&c=

Just in harbor from there was a tug moored outboard of the Felix our Grady

Those are beauties and bet a pleasure to sail.

[AiniA]

I thought this was a forum for people who sail their own boats, not those who were employed by various navies and crossed various lines because others decided where they would be going. While you are at it, get off my lawn.

Did I miss any love for Lat - 0° Lon - 0°? I guess the Gulf of Guinea is not on the way to or from anywhere that cruisers might want to go.

[proudsailor]

Didn't do it on my sailboat, but did do it as a senior officer on my Navy ship. Did my young enlisted crew have a ball tormenting me & the SUPPO. That card remains in my wallet to this day. And it was a great stress reliever for all after being underway for months....

[garyfdl]

Originally Posted by proudsailor

That card remains in my wallet to this day. And it was a great stress reliever for all after being underway for months....

My Bluenose card gets cremated with me.

How was the sea-salad?

[OneBoatman]

So that must be somewhere in the middle. Yep, and it's five o'clock somewhere. Always celebrate most vigorously with celebrities, remember to dot at least some of your eyes, and know that your mama crossed the equator too.

[lhogdenwa]

Originally Posted by newhaul

I remember my first crossing in 1986 and my golden in 1990. What great memories to be had .

One becomes a Golden Shellback when you cross the equator and the date line at the same and the same place.

[lhogdenwa]

Originally Posted by AiniA

I thought this was a forum for people who sail their own boats, not those who were employed by various navies and crossed various lines because others decided where they would be going. While you are at it, get off my lawn.

Did I miss any love for Lat - 0° Lon - 0°? I guess the Gulf of Guinea is not on the way to or from anywhere that cruisers might want to go.

How about Lat - 0° Lon - 180°?