Crossing the Equator wasn’t part of Sailing Nandji’s original plan. In Episode 93, Yosh and Bonita were making a 700-nautical-mile passage from Jayapura to Sorong, Indonesia, on their way to Raja Ampat. But after six days at sea, sailing just south of the Equator, they decided to make a short detour north.
And they weren’t going to cross the line wearing clothes.
Sailing naked across the Equator was their own way of celebrating an old maritime tradition. The crew marked the occasion with a small party and an offering to King Neptune, but the weather soon had other plans. A squall brought strong winds and heavy rain, sending Nandji back towards the Southern Hemisphere and the original route to Sorong.
It’s a light-hearted moment in a passage that still demanded plenty of attention from the crew. Watch Sailing Nandji Episode 93 below to see how their unusual Equator crossing unfolded.
Why did Sailing Nandji cross the Equator naked?
Crossing the Equator has been a maritime tradition for centuries. Known as the crossing-the-line ceremony, it marks a sailor’s first passage from one hemisphere to the other, usually with a visit from King Neptune and his court.
In naval tradition, sailors who have never crossed the Equator are called pollywogs. Once initiated, they become shellbacks. Ceremonies vary between ships and have evolved over time, from sometimes demanding initiation rituals to more light-hearted celebrations.
Sailing naked isn’t a requirement, nor is swimming beneath the keel or climbing the mast. For Yosh and Bonita, it was simply their own way of marking the occasion aboard Nandji, with a little humour and an offering to Neptune before returning to the passage.
The Royal Australian Navy’s account of the crossing-the-line ceremony offers a closer look at the history behind this seafaring custom.