In time honoured maritime tradition, Lord Neptune made an appearance on the decks of Majan today.

In sailors mythology, Lord Neptune, the Roman God of Water and Sea, saved and showed the way to ships caught in the storm.  In his benign aspect, Lord Neptune was seen as creating new islands and offering calm seas.  When offended or ignored, he supposedly struck the ground with his trident and caused chaotic springs, earthquakes, drownings and shipwrecks.  Sailors prayed to Lord Neptune for a safe voyage, sometimes drowning horses as a sacrifice.

A tradition within yacht racing is to make sure Neptune safely welcomes teams across the Equator, especially those sailors who have never crossed it before by boat.  It’s particularly important not to have offended Neptune.  But most fellow crew members who have already made the Equator crossing will make sure they can find some suitable misdemeanour of their fellow new-comer to the proceedings.

“So in a short break in-between the warm rain shower, Neptune arrived, sporting a dacron trident, with a resplendent kevlar crown peering through his long mop like hair and beard. His ‘royal highness’ was very happy to welcome a few of us back to his castle of (compass) noughts.  But one young prince was new and as custom decrees, he would have to answer to his crimes and go through the sailors ritual.

Mohammed was called to the witness stand. It wasn’t long before Mohsin performed the honours - and covered the young lad with the slop of the sea, plus a few dead fish heads, a portion of freeze-dried food, and a healthy drop of what we could add from the condiments department!  Although very confused of what to expect, Mohammed took his sentence with good humour and his usual wide grin.

It’s a rite of passage that we have all been through. Mohsin recanted the tale when he met king Neptune himself, for the first time. So far this leg has been one of mile-stones and new ground.

As we hurtle south we see a very ugly tropical cyclone that has now even name ‘Jelaine’. She is promising 60-70 knot winds and waves that would batter an oil tanker. This is not a mile-stone that we care to reach. Paul and Thierry update each other on every watch forming a plan of action. We will keep you posted.” Said Mark Covell.