Crew Blog

Qingdao slips over

15 October 2007

Qingdao crew suffer the punishment of Neptune's court

At 1215 UTC 14 Oct, we read 00 00.0 N 031 28 .368 W and the Lady Qing crossed the Equator.

With the crew in high spirits and some of the ladies dressing up, it gave us the morale booster that we needed. With all the crew being Pollywogs except the Badger, who was in his set having a snooze, we were met by Neptune himself. (A Pollywog is a name for a sailor who hasn’t been across the Equator.) Neptune sprung on board wearing a magnificent crown and summoned us to his throne next to the wheel. He then blessed us one by one with a rather fruity/offish smelling gunk and proclaimed that we had now moved up the evolutionary tree to become Shellbacks. (Shellbacks are sailors who have crossed the Equator.) With this great occasion having passed, Neptune himself dived back into the waters, at which point Marcus the Badger arose from his set. On hearing what had happened he told us to toast Neptune with a bottle of Talisker 18-year-old malt which Christian had bought. We toasted in good form and, I have to add, it is the sweetest malt I have ever had.

With the royal blue ocean, fluffy white clouds and a filling breeze the lady Qingdao slipped through the sea in steady form, the crew sat back and listened to a few favorite tunes to keep us going.

At no 1) We like Chinese by Monty Python
2) Basket Case by Green Day as we surf the waves
3) Jack Johnson as we watch the sun drop and the stars come out to guide us.

With one of Ant’s SK travel sweets (which bring us all memories of growing up) it brings us to the end of another perfect day and a new glorious night.

1. David Paulsen, Washington, DC 16 October 2007

Well at least there’s Scotch on board. Good luck to Carrie and her crewmates!

2. Jen, Neil, Cammy and Kirsty, Glasgow 16 October 2007

Are you saving the really good stuff for the way back Uncle Christian? Glad to see you exerting your usual good and bad influence in the fields of drinking and music!

3. Steve Pang, bath 16 October 2007

Well done for crossing the line! Keep going, plenty of sailing to go. And happy birthday Oscar for the 16th Oct. Pirate.

4. sarah king, san diego 16 October 2007

Congratulations to you all on meeting up with Neptune and the Malt; enjoy the dry land when you get there. By the way did Gary win the popluar vote?????
love sarah

5. Joyce Jones, Warrington, Lancashire 16 October 2007

Congratulation to all on Lady Qing, have a great time in Brazil. Enjoy and -Christopher “Savour the moment”. Love Mum

6. sarah king, san diego 16 October 2007

just looked at the photo more closely.........I guess Gary has grown more than a moustache! All looks like fun ....love s

7. Pinar ustun de cabrol, paris 17 October 2007

congradulations...have fun in brazil, almot there…

8. Florence Carter, St.Antonys Sch Leweston,Dorset 17 October 2007

Crossing the equater seems to have had dramatic and slightly worrying affects apon you all!! Madness has grasped ahold of you !! must admit it looks like tramendous fun! Lets see some more pickys of this Mayhem !! Keep it up all of you. Hugs to mummy carter (bridget) XX

9. robert bennett, manchester 17 October 2007

Come on Gary,get all your sails up
You don’t want to miss the RWC Final

10. karole, current location: virgin gorda 17 October 2007

Gary- keep up the great work and congrats on crossing the equator/meeting Neptune! Thinking of you from the bvi...sailing and sun, albeit my conditions perhaps a bit more comfortable/luxurious . Also, just returned from Buenos Aires and may be traveling to Brazil quite soon...perhaps see you there!?!

11. Butty & Jo, Polperro, Cornwall,UK. 17 October 2007

Good to see you all in such high spirits Qingdao, great racing , and in brazil for the final and a few nice cold beers Marcus!! Perfect. Come on England!!

12. Liz Hill, Shrewsbury, UK 17 October 2007

Well done all of you. Nearly there now so keep it up. Liz

13. ellie and mike, bustling bridport UK 17 October 2007

Greetings to all you shellbacks, but especially to Bridget, from the old people’s home here in St Andrews Road. Congrats! You make it sound like a holiday! LOL, Ellie & Mike

14. Barbara, Dorset 17 October 2007

Glad the only true spirit has reached the equator in such fine company! Congratulations - what yarns you’ll all have!
Love
Bridget’s Scottish friend xx

15. Tatty, HK 18 October 2007

Qingdao, Qingdo, Qingdao....come on! Almost there. The beers are on ice and the rugby starts in 56 hours - get a shimmy on!!! Tattyx

16. Badger's sister, Sedgefield 18 October 2007

Come on Qingdao - nearly there. World Cup to look forward to - by the way Marcus I will be there !!!!! Ahoy the Shellbacks - well done to all!

17. The Lamports, Ely Cambridgeshire 18 October 2007

Sounds like fun crossing the Equator and becoming Shellbacks. Learn something new every day looking at the site. Only 121 nmi to go. Well done everyone. Can’t wait to see you Bridget and hear all about it. Take care. The Geordies will be so jealous when they see your tan and fitness! Love The Lamports x

18. Zoe, London 18 October 2007

Keep going guys - you’re so nearly in Salvador- have a great party when you arive!!! Zoe

19. Lisa and Russell Thatcher, sussex 18 October 2007

Congrats on becoming shellbacks! you learn something new everyday!!!
Great blog, great photo. Is that you Gary looking the spit of Captain Hook?
Keep on going, you can make it for the rugby.
lol Lisa

20. Florence Carter, St.Antonys Sch Leweston,Dorset 19 October 2007

CONGRATULATIONS! well done everyone. X

21. Xinmin Yan, Beijing, China 19 October 2007

Well done, Qingdao!! thinking of all of you.... have fun in Brazil!

22. Rory Selvey, England 19 October 2007

have you sunk yet? Neptune looks really scary.(Hurry up!!!) good luck!

is chris being a bad boy?? it runs in the family. love cousin Rory

23. justine, York 19 October 2007

Congrats on making it to Brazil Christian and co. Granny K very jealous and samba ing around the room singing ‘Brazil, where summer nights la,la,la la, ‘- don’t expect that one is on your play list!
Chill out and enjoy your break.’ Auntie’ Justine & mob.

24. Rob and Ria, Antwerp Belgium 19 October 2007

Hello there to Christian L. on Qingdao !! Enjoy your days off in Salvador. Hope you had a great trip. Well done that 8th place. Up for the next leg. See you. Regards to Karo as well.

25. Baz and Jo, Italy 20 October 2007

Well done gang. We think of you all the time. X

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