MAIDEN CROSSES THE EQUATOR - pollywogs to shellbacks!
Belle ✏️
Following tradition, our onboard pollywogs were summoned to the foredeck to plead for their crimes before The Court of Neptune. Alongside King Neptune was his scribe, doctor, Thalassa (Queen of the Ocean), sea snakes and the shark.
The verdict of guilty was found for crimes, and punishment was given with a shave of an eyebrow, a lock of hair and a good dowsing in of the collection of the boats slop bucket! We now have 3 more hardened shellbacks in our team! 💪
Sharon✏️
Bex, was first for her sins and found guilty with a newly shaped eyebrow and slops (3 day old rotten food) all over her head! Tash was next and was also found guilty; as a result she now has a new forearm hair design in the shape of The Maiden Factor logo, and a very hearty dumping of slops on top of her head that went all over her face when she moved!
Nat was the last to go with 2 arm bands leading to the golden pillow award (for the person who has slept the most!) and also with a full ladle of slops. Now they are accepted by King Neptune along with others who have crossed the equator and are called shellbacks!
The Maiden crew ended their equator crossing ceremony by offering gifts from the Waimakariri Sailing Club to King Neptune - with a little help from the mascots onboard!
The flax chest was handmade by Sam Jones (incoming Commodore of the Waimakariri Sailing Club) with his two daughters, Lexi and Cadence (who is also a P-Class sailor!). It was presented by members of the Sailing Club to the crew at Maiden's departure from Auckland.
The crew have eagerly been awaiting this very special equator crossing, and the gifts seemed to have pleased King Neptune as the weather is looking good!
