Volvo Ocean Race- Camper crosses the Line + Video

Three day old slop is caked over inductees of the realm of King Neptune onboard CAMPER with Emirates Team New Zealand during leg 1 of the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12, from Alicante, Spain to Cape Town, South Africa. Hamish Hooper/Camper ETNZ/Volvo Ocean Race

King Neptune hearing the crimes committed by Adam Minoprio upon crossing the equator CAMPER with Emirates Team New Zealand during leg 1 of the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12, from Alicante, Spain to Cape Town, South Africa. © Hamish Hooper/Camper ETNZ/Volvo Ocean Race

food, flying fish and cross-dressing sailors have been the order of the day for Camper as they crossed the Equator overnight and observed the centuries old tradition of ‘crossing the line’.

A rite of passage for all sailors the ceremony involves crew crossing the Equator for the first time being hauled before King Neptune and his court to be punished for their sins. The tradition of appeasing King Neptune and ensuring good luck for the voyage has been passed down from generation to generation and is a recipe for some light hearted relief aboard.

On Camper ‘first timers’ Hamish Hooper and Adam Minoprio paid a heavy price with King Neptune (Tony Rae) and Queen Codfish (Rob Salthouse) ensuring that appropriate sacrifices were made.

Punishments laden out on the inductees during the ceremony included hair being shaved off and being coated in a disgusting mix of rotting food, ‘aged’ flying fish and bilge water.

Tony Rae says that Hooper and Minoprio did a fine job of being initiated into King Neptune’s realm.

'They both coped well and now the sacrifices have been made they can consider themselves real offshore sailors! This is one of the great traditions of ocean sailing and an opportunity for all the guys except for Hamish and Adam to have a bit of fun.'

Adam Minoprio sporting a new acquired bald patch is just pleased to have the ceremony behind him.

'It was pretty bad – I was almost dry retching and with this bald patch I look more like Hamish Hooper now, but at least I can stop glancing nervously over my shoulder every five minutes!'.

Adam Minoprio with the scars of his first equator crossing as he looks onto Fernando Island onboard CAMPER with Emirates Team New Zealand during leg 1 of the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12, from Alicante, Spain to Cape Town, South Africa. © Hamish Hooper/Camper ETNZ/Volvo Ocean Race

King Neptune crossing the equator CAMPER with Emirates Team New Zealand during leg 1 of the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12, from Alicante, Spain to Cape Town, South Africa. © Hamish Hooper/Camper ETNZ/Volvo Ocean Race