AMT Blog

There were some 20 or so members of the scientific party and ships crew who had never crossed the equator prior to this year’s AMT, including myself. It turned out to be a day that will live long in all of our memories and not merely due to the significance of such a traverse.

The day (7^th November) started much as any other with everyone busy conducting their respective science. However, there was an undertone of deviance resonating from the ‘Shellbacks’ (those who had crossed the line previously) leading to much apprehension on the part of the ‘Polywogs’ (those who hadn’t).

The Polywogs

We had no idea what was in store for us but made a collective decision that we would not succumb to our fate without a fight.

Well we ‘crossed the line’ and it was the first time for many of us and we all had to pay homage to Neptune and his queen, pay our forfeits and celebrate with a beer. Then some bright spark came up with the idea of a charity head & beard shave after dinner.