From Pollywog to Shellback

This is us just as we crossed the Equator in the Atlantic
Ocean between Durban and Cape Town. You can see
we are all wet. This pattern of rainfall at the Equator is
due to wind patterns, which creates ideal conditions
(warm, moist, unstable air) for the formation of storm
clouds. It was very warm and the sea temperature was
close to 30 degrees. In Crossing the Line the crew
 gaduated from "Pollywogs" to "Shellbacks".

"The ceremony of Crossing the Line is an initiation rite in the Royal Navy, U.S. Navy, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Marine Corps, and other navies that commemorates a sailor's first crossing of the Equator.^[1] Originally, the tradition was created as a test for seasoned sailors to ensure their new shipmates were capable of handling long rough times at sea. Sailors who have already crossed the Equator are nicknamed (Trusty) Shellbacks, often referred to as Sons of Neptune; those who have not are nicknamed (Slimy) Pollywogs.
Equator-crossing ceremonies, typically featuring King Neptune, are also sometimes carried out for passengers' entertainment on civilian ocean liners and cruise ships. They are also performed in the merchant navy and aboard sail training ships." Sorce:Wikipedia

Dressed to Impress!

Each month The Mercy Academy has a "Spirit Day"

where the students dress up in a the dress of a

particular nation. Of course, as we were only

days away from West Africa, this was the

month's dress. Here is Jess in an outift I found in

the Boutique (ship's op-shop). Isn't she cute? We

will get one made for her soon enough.

Andrew is looking very sharp in his dress whites. The

epaulette for Engineering is a propellor. He is out on

deck 8. Below is the Engineering group photo.

Sailing Fun...

Sailing is a time of much needed relaxation and a

source of great entertainment. There are some very

creative minds on board. We have had Sock Golf,

Kareoke, Sail Olympics, Worship on the Bow,

Pirate themed Dance Party (to conincide with the

start of pirate watch of course) and Movies out on

deck 8 (Titanic-what else?). At the kareoke night
the only four Aussie's on board for the sail (us and
Tim the purser) sang, you guessed it, Men at Work's
"Land Down Under"!!

The Sock Golf trophy! Sock golf is much like mini

golf but using a pair of socks, one follows a pre-set

course around the ship and has to hit a paper target

with the socks. The trick is many of the targets are around

corners, or down stairs, through bulkheads and through

doors. It took us 3 hours and I was totally hot and exhausted!

This is Sail Olympics. This sail's theme was cans. Here

is Jessica's team-"The P.E Lover's", blind tasting different
types of cola. Their P.E teacher, also a judge gave them
extra points-lol! They are wearing their Academy uniform.
                                                                                

Another Sailing Olympics game-finding and identifying
cans of soft drink in the closed Ship Shop whilst the entire
team stays within the confines of a hula hoop. Who thinks
these things up???
                                                                              

The Sailing Olypics Trophy (a scale model of The Africa
Mercy constructed of empty cans over 6 labour intensive hours)
proudly demonstrated by Jesse our exectutive head chef and
Jay our A/V guy, also a part of the Toga team. Who
WOULDN'T want this thing in their cabin I ask??

Table Mountain

After 6:00pm it was half price (missionary price-lol)

to go up Table Mountian in the cable car. The views

were breathtaking.

The veiw of Cape Town from Table Mountian. Look

towards the back to the left and you can see the

Africa Mercy docked.

Another gorgeous view.

Jess perched precariously on a rock, scaring us to death!

The Twelve Apostles-yes they have been busy. First

in the bible, then The Great Ocean Road in Victoria,

currently Table Mountian, Cape Town.

We were just about to line up for the cable car back

down when we heard gasps of awe. We were privileged

to witness "The Tablecloth", a natural phenomena of Table

Mountian. Clouds coming rushing over the top of the

mountian in what can only be described as a waterfall.

The air quickly changing from freezing cold, to warm

and balmy then back to freezing again....

TABLE MOUNTIAN IS CURRENTLY IN THE RUNNING FOR THE "NEW 7 WONDERS OF NATURE". Vote NOW at: www.new7wonders.com

Cape Town-Jewel of Africa!

Wow! All the crew were so excited to berth in Cape

Town for 24 hours. Our last stop in a developed

nations for 10 months. Frantic shopping, eating out

and sight seeing was had by all. We were so lucky

to be able to berth at The V&A Waterfront right

under Table Mountain. We were finally able to get

a coveted TV licence and buy a TV too.

It's a long way home!

Jess and I get close to Nelson Mandella.

Someone had a little too much spare time on their

hands when they built this man out of empty coke crates.

 Ugly, but cool.

One of so many highlights was the US Navy Brass

Band. They were AMAZING! When they broke into

the popular song "Billionare", the crowd went wild.

They could even sing and rap.

The stunning "Wheel of Excellence". It is the

same one as at South Bank in Brisbane.

Jess and I went on it on Valentines Day

and got a free rose each and a champagne

glass of orange juice.

This is a drill, this is a drill, this is a drill.....

We will hear these words dozens of times in the next few
years. First we hear an earpiercing shriek through the PA,
then the Captain saying, "This is a drill, this is a drill, this is
a drill...... There are several different kinds of drills, there
are "At sea drills", "In port drills", "Abandon ship drills"and
"Man overboard drills". It doesn't matter if you know there
is a drill coming, that shrieking alarm still manages to make you
jump out of your skin!



The drills tend to go on and on as the Muster Leaders
call the roll and inevitably people are missing. Before
we can go, EVERYBODY must be accounted for.
Jess is having a little rest in this "At sea drill", some
where in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. It is really
hard to sit down in the life jackets!

Dolphin Show!

There are many excellent photographers on
the ship-these ones of dolphins leaping
along the bow are courtesty of Shelly Davies.

Double the thrills! Who needs Seaworld!

Such a stunning, once in a lifetime shot! What a thrill

it was for us all to see dolphins in such abundance,

following and leaping alongside the bow.