000 N, 000 W

Find a map, or a globe of the Earth. Locate the equator and then trace your finger along its length. You’ll find a point where zero degrees longitude meets zero degrees latitude, just south of Ghana, Africa. It’s the meeting of the equator and the prime meridian. The intersection of those two lines is where we were recently. An abstract point on the surface of the ocean perhaps, but some consider this location the center of the planet. Wrap your mind around that for a moment…
Actually, there is a buoy that marks the location. Takes temperature and salinity readings for NOAA (the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). But it has more meaning than that to the sailor. For this is the realm of King Neptune, Davey Jones and the royal court. It’s here that land-lubbing pollywogs are transformed into Trusty Shellbacks; actually Emerald Shellbacks due to the location. Oh yeah, time for the ‘Crossing the Line’ ceremony.

I can’t really go into specific details, and pictures are right out due to political sensitivities. But we have a very ‘spirited’ ceremony to make sure our new Shellback brothers and sisters are worthy of the title. It’s changed from days gone by, probably for the better, and it is in good fun. Lots of exercise, singing, seawater, ‘acting’ and the like. And it’s definitely better to give than to receive. Those of us who have gone through it before make sure the event is memorable for the newer folks. I had no idea that the ‘SpongeBob Square Pants’ song had so many new verses…and it’s really hard to call for Flipper the Dolphin, and green dye doesn’t look good on anyone…but I digress.

So goodnight from 000N, 000W. Or is it 000S, 000E?