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03-11-2007, 10:29
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#1
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Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Philippines in the winters
Boat: It’s in French Polynesia now
Posts: 11,368
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Imperium Neptuni Regis
Today marks the anniversary of my second crossing of the equator, known as a Shellback, compliments of the US Navy. The first crossing was Oct. 13, 1971.
Do we have any other card carrying Shellback's aboard?
I've always wondered if one becomes a Shellback if they live below the equator and cross going north.
You guys down under would know how to answer that.
Another thing I've noticed about the world is most of the land mass is well above (North) the equator. So it seems NZ and the Southern tip of S. America are the arctic's of the Southern Hemisphere.
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Faithful are the Wounds of a Friend, but the Kisses of the Enemy are Deceitful! ........
The measure of a man is how he navigates to a proper shore in the midst of a storm!
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03-11-2007, 10:32
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#2
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֍֎֍֎֍֎֍֎֍֎
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 15,136
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"I've always wondered if one becomes a Shellback if they live below the equator and cross going north. "
Yarrrggghhhh....Considering they start out upside down, wouldn't that have to be a shellBELLY if they cross the other way? [g]
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03-11-2007, 13:39
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#3
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Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Brighton, UK
Boat: Privilege 37
Posts: 3,737
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If I recall correctly I have made 10 crossings in grey funnel liners Might be 2 more, but we were playing around on the equator for a while so I have only counted that as a single event.
Done the artic circle a few times as well.
Dont count the tropics, crossed them far too many times.
__________________
"Be wary of strong drink. It can make you shoot at tax collectors - and miss."
Robert A Heinlein
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03-11-2007, 20:02
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#4
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Nicholasville, Kentucky
Boat: 15 foot Canoe
Posts: 14,191
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Aloha Del,
I think we gathered a forum member named "Shellback" and we had this discussion but if we haven't then, "yes" emphatically I am a shellback (twice across) and not a slimey wog. Do you remember the "Royal Baby?"
Kind Regards,
JohnL
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03-11-2007, 22:00
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#5
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Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Philippines in the winters
Boat: It’s in French Polynesia now
Posts: 11,368
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I remember having to kiss the Royal Baby's belly. Which was actually getting your nose smeared in a greasy belly button.
__________________
Faithful are the Wounds of a Friend, but the Kisses of the Enemy are Deceitful! ........
The measure of a man is how he navigates to a proper shore in the midst of a storm!
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03-11-2007, 22:16
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#6
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Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Philippines in the winters
Boat: It’s in French Polynesia now
Posts: 11,368
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John,
Did you have to line up to meet the Royal Family.
__________________
Faithful are the Wounds of a Friend, but the Kisses of the Enemy are Deceitful! ........
The measure of a man is how he navigates to a proper shore in the midst of a storm!
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04-11-2007, 01:01
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#7
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Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Brighton, UK
Boat: Privilege 37
Posts: 3,737
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Well it was 30 or so years ago, but I dont remember being as clean on a UK ship as your fellows look in those photos, and the materials that were used in the stuff slapped on us by Neptunes Retainers defie ddescription - foul doesnt come close! Most of us spent a very long time in the showers afterwards with lots of shampoo.
Unfortunately I dont have any photos.
__________________
"Be wary of strong drink. It can make you shoot at tax collectors - and miss."
Robert A Heinlein
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04-11-2007, 10:26
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#8
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Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Philippines in the winters
Boat: It’s in French Polynesia now
Posts: 11,368
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Oh Yeah! The picture above was the start. Ya had to get your summons and go before Davy Jones.
Then you were run through the slop-shoots Which included rotten egg breakfast a bit of moly grease for the hair and prushen blueing for the officer's backs. Most of this took days to get off. Along with the line tenders with a bit of cut-off fire hose making sure you stayed in line.
__________________
Faithful are the Wounds of a Friend, but the Kisses of the Enemy are Deceitful! ........
The measure of a man is how he navigates to a proper shore in the midst of a storm!
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04-11-2007, 10:51
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#9
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Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Toronto
Boat: CS36Merlin, "La Belle Aurore"
Posts: 7,557
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In today's politically correct world I doubt whether the ceremony is conducted in the same fashion as when most of us older folks went to sea. Nowadays they probably have a little tea party and award ceremony where everyone claps politely. And of course it's Queen Neptune now.
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Rick I
Toronto in summer, Bahamas in winter.
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04-11-2007, 11:03
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#10
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Nicholasville, Kentucky
Boat: 15 foot Canoe
Posts: 14,191
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Aloha Vasco,
That's funny!! LOL.
Del, How in the world do you still have photos of the ceremony after so many years?
Great memories. Our Royal Baby was much bigger!! Maybe it was the angle at which I was seeing him?
JohnL
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04-11-2007, 12:07
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#11
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Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Philippines in the winters
Boat: It’s in French Polynesia now
Posts: 11,368
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SkiprJohn
Del, How in the world do you still have photos of the ceremony after so many years?
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The Ex's didn't want them.
__________________
Faithful are the Wounds of a Friend, but the Kisses of the Enemy are Deceitful! ........
The measure of a man is how he navigates to a proper shore in the midst of a storm!
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04-11-2007, 15:15
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#12
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Eastern Tennessee
Boat: Research vessel for a university, retired now.
Posts: 10,406
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I have crossed a number of times now. The first time was aboard the Training Ship Golden Bear of Cal Maritime Academy. When I crossed in 1982, we went through hell. Since then, a number of women have sued the Academy and the last I heard the ancient tradition has been made politically correct. I earned mine....and dished it out the next cruise!
I think you are right Vasco, they now probably do serve tea and crumpets and clap politely like at a golf tournament. It would be interesting to hear what the more "seasoned" Navy guys went through.
__________________
David
Life begins where land ends.
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04-11-2007, 16:59
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#13
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Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Toronto
Boat: CS36Merlin, "La Belle Aurore"
Posts: 7,557
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It's a shame that these essentially harmless traditions are being cast aside or swept under the carpet in the name of political correctness or eliminating discrimination. Funny, when I was at sea the old timers use to pine about the sailing ship days "when ships were made of wood and sailors were made of steel", so I guess going to sea has changed over the years and always will change. As an apprentice deck officer I endured all sorts of pranks and silly jokes; it was part of becoming a sailor. I got my name (Vasco) from the mate on the first ship I was on. He took one look at me when I boarded in my jeans and red nylon jacket (James Dean was big in those days) and dubbed me Vasco Da Gama, after saying that I'd never make a sailor as long as my a**hole pointed downwards. Great sense of humour those guys had.
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Rick I
Toronto in summer, Bahamas in winter.
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04-11-2007, 17:22
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#14
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Nicholasville, Kentucky
Boat: 15 foot Canoe
Posts: 14,191
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Aloha Vasco,
Did you ever look for the "Sea Bats?" How about "Relative Bearing Grease?" In between learning how to cope with disasters and to fire guns we had a great time either being taught or teaching others to learn a little humility. All done in fun and never carried overboard to the point of actually causing physical or psychological damage. Chiefs initiations were much more severe and I had to officiate over many that could have turned bad.
I truly wish the newbies could experience what was done in the old days just to get a feel for it.
JohnL
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04-11-2007, 17:39
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#15
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Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Toronto
Boat: CS36Merlin, "La Belle Aurore"
Posts: 7,557
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The mate used to send to me to Bosun to ask for the keys to the keelson in heavy weather. Another time he sent me up the mast in about 30+ knots and real cold weather to signal a lighthouse using semaphore. They laughed their butts off. Hope you didn't have to look for the golden rivet!!!
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Rick I
Toronto in summer, Bahamas in winter.
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