Sneaking across the Equator at about midnight, full moon shining over the ship’s masts, silently sailing with all our canvas set, didn’t go unnoticed by Neptune, God of water and the sea. Sure it didn’t help the loud blast of the horn that the Captain blew as we passed “The Line”. Sure of his awareness of our presence, the salty Shellbacks who already sailed across the Equator before (now sailing with 21 Pollywogs in his waters) expected his ineluctable Royal visit. It was in the afternoon when the mighty Neptune and his Royal Household rose from the depths of the equatorial waters to board the Europa. Neptune took over the ship, installing himself on his throne presiding on the Main deck. Next to him is his devoted wife Salacia. Pollywogs’ wrongdoing scrolls under the arm of Prosecutor and Master of Ceremony, Davy Jones. The Court surrounding the royal couple.All ready for the ancient initiation rite to honor a sailor’s first crossing of the Equator. A ceremony to confirm the new shipmate’s capabilities of withstanding a long time at sea and its related hardships, through the Worship of the God of the Sea; showing due respect and withstanding embarrassing ordeals to cleanse the sailor’s sins. The details of the ceremony to be worthy to join Neptune’s ranks are locked in secrecy. But by the end of the day, 21 newly appointed Shellbacks had been baptized and accepted into Neptune’s unfathomable Oceanic Kingdom. From today onwards, Europa carries on her oceanic crossing, but now with a full complement of ́Sons & Daughters of Neptune ́.